Nearly a thousand workers covered by collective agreements at Countdown’s distribution centres (in Christchurch, Palmerston North, and Auckland), will see their hourly wage go to a minimum of $25 this year in a new deal that sets a new bench mark for how companies engage labour-hire workers.

The move follows Foodstuffs distribution workers also receiving a conversion clause. Here, workers on triangular employment contracts must be converted to permanent work within six months to ensure employees receive the same benefits they would have rights to on a permanent contract.

FIRST Union’s Transport, Logistics and Manufacturing Secretary, Jared Abbott, says the workers are extremely proud of the deal that not only sees substantial wage increases but also includes additional allowances, an increase in paid sick leave, and a new benchmark for how companies engage labour-hire workers.

“The new agreement means not only will all labour-hire workers will be offered direct permanent employment at rates well above the living wage within six months of being engaged, but also includes a stringent auditing process to ensure labour-hire companies are engaging workers lawfully.”

“What we see time and time again in the labour-hire industry is companies not complying with the requirements of the law in their employment contracts, with the most common breach being zero hour contracts and workers having no rights when being terminated, this seeks to amend that.”

AnchorCanada’s landmark decision to introduce a strictly regulated legal cannabis market is a public health win, and something the New Zealand government should look to emulate.

“Canada’s Parliament has rightly accepted that legalising cannabis is the best way to protect public health and safety,” says Ross Bell, NZ Drug Foundation Executive Director.

“It may seem counter-intuitive to many, but this bold move to legalise cannabis use and sales in Canada is a better way to pursue public health goals than leaving it to the black market.”

New Zealand can learn a lot from Canada’s legalisation process. Each of the 13 provinces and territories will choose how to implement the federal law, which means retail licensing, age restrictions and store locations will vary from state to state.

The law was designed within a public health framework, to reduce the likelihood of negative health outcomes and the downstream effects of criminalisation.

“When you hand out a conviction for a cannabis use offence, it can set off a downward spiral of events. Treating drug use as a health issue not a criminal one means better results for individuals and society as a whole,” Mr Bell says.

“The sky hasn’t fallen since cannabis was legalised in several neighbouring US states. And since Canada is taking a more cautious approach to legalisation than they have in the States, we should expect similar or better outcomes.”

The public health principles are borne out in advertising restrictions, regulations around packaging, taxation to control retail prices, and more funding for treatment and education. The federal government has already invested heavily in education and prevention activities, with $47 million allocated in 2017 and $62.5 million in the last budget.

A comprehensive research programme is already underway to track how legalisation will affect consumption, pricing and public health. Before the legislation was introduced, the Trudeau-led government had already indicated it would be open to tweaking the law to get the best possible health outcomes.

“The Canadian government has consistently said regulation is the best way to protect young people,” Mr Bell says. “Young Canadians will find it harder to access cannabis once a legal framework is in place. The black market will take a big hit and stores will observe strict age limits.

“As New Zealand considers the upcoming cannabis referendum, we will have the chance to learn from those that have gone before us. Our punitive drug law clearly isn’t working, we urgently need a different approach. Let’s be willing to borrow the best from our Canadian Commonwealth cousins.”

[Ends]Note:
The purpose of Bill C-45 to legalise cannabis is as follows (via Canadian parliament website):
The objectives of the Act are to prevent young persons from accessing cannabis, to protect public health and public safety by establishing strict product safety and product quality requirements and to deter criminal activity by imposing serious criminal penalties for those operating outside the legal framework. The Act is also intended to reduce the burden on the criminal justice system in relation to cannabis.

Greenpeace is calling for MPI to immediately release any documentation addressing the serious issues found during two extensive investigations into New Zealand’s fisheries, the reports of which they then buried.

Over the past week, two leaked Government reports written by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) have been released by Greenpeace, exposing industrial scale dumping and under-reporting of fish within the Southern Blue Whiting and Hoki fisheries.

Publicly, MPI had only released abridged versions of the reports and left out the more than 70 critical recommendations made by its compliance team to address the serious issues within the fisheries.

In response to the leaked reports, MPI is now claiming its procedures have changed, with manager of compliance investigations, Gary Orr, saying the process is better and New Zealanders can have more confidence in the level of reporting.

“It’s complete balderdash. I can’t see how after all this dishonesty – which includes burying these damning reports in the first place – the industry and MPI would just have us believe that everything is peachy,” he says.

“We’d like to see a publicly released version of any MPI documentation that addresses each of the 71 critical recommendations made by compliance officers in response to the thousands of tonnes of fish that have been dumped and underreported within the Southern Blue Whiting and Hoki fisheries.

“If MPI really has dealt with these issues, there will have been extensive further investigation and documentation. We challenge MPI to release that today.”

Greenpeace has called for a full and independent inquiry into the New Zealand Fisheries Management System and its regulator MPI.

The small accommodation supplement increases made under National’s 2017 budget are finally being implemented by the Labour Government. But beneficiaries are still left wanting for basic items such as food.

“The current costs of living are leaving beneficiaries struggling to pay their rent and feed themselves and their families, and a marginal increase to benefit levels signals the Government has no sense of urgency to put an end to poverty in Aotearoa”, says Ricardo Menendez, Auckland Action Against Poverty’s spokesperson.

“Some people will be getting as little as $3-$6 extra a week, an amount that is going to be eaten by the rapidly increasing cost of rent across the country—particularly when you consider the average rent price in Auckland was $508 at the end of 2017.

“Without a truly substantial increase to the number of state homes—or policy that protects tenants from rent increases—it’s difficult to imagine how accommodation supplement increases will go towards providing secure tenancy to our most vulnerable communities.

“Right now landlords can simply increase rent to match the increase of the accommodation supplement. Jacinda Ardern and her Labour led Government should do what is morally right and introduce rent controls and build more state homes, so that they don’t leave people’s well being at the mercy of landlords.

“The Labour led government’s ability to substantially reduce poverty is also being hamstrung by its Budget Responsibility Rules, which arbitrarily limit Core Crown Spending and debt to levels below many other OECD countries. Higher levels of Government spending will be needed to substantially increase benefit levels and remove punitive sanctions, like the sanctions on solo mothers.

“Auckland Action Against Poverty is calling on the Government to raise the lid on its spending and debt limits above what the Budget Responsibility Rules would allow to immediately put an end to sanctions on beneficiaries, raise income levels and build the number of state homes required to lift hundreds of thousands of people out of poverty.

“The Government has the resources and tools available to provide a liveable income to all people in Aotearoa, but its willingness to move past the neoliberal politics of the past 40 years will be put at test in next months’ Budget”.

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters has again hinted the Ardern government may exit China’s One Belt One Road initiative as Wellington “resets” its strategic focus to the Pacific.

With Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern beginning her first trip across the region today, Peters told Television New Zealand’s Q & A show the Pacific was where New Zealand mattered and could do most.

But, alluding to China’s influence, he said a number of countries had been intervening in the Pacific in ways that were “not helpful”.

“Our job is to ensure that the engagement of other countries in the Pacific is for the interests of the Pacific and the security and prosperity of the neighbourhood,” he said.

Peters said the previous government had been too hasty to sign up to China’s One Belt One Road initiative, with the implications for New Zealand unclear.

His coalition government would instead move slower in relation to the deal.

‘Shifting the dial’

“It’s a case of shifting the dial, it’s a case of having our eyes wide open, it’s a Pacific reset in circumstances where we must do far better,” he said.

“Our aid, for example, is on the decline, to go down to 0.21 (per cent of gross domestic product) from 0.30 (per cent) just eight years ago.”

He said low aid levels from New Zealand would not “stack up against countries with a big cheque book”, who were not always acting in the Pacific’s interest.

Fresh from a diplomatic trip across the Tasman, Ardern departs for Samoa today on the first leg of her first annual Pacific Mission.

She and a team of politicians, representatives from charities and Pasifika community leaders will then travel to Tonga, Niue and the Cook Islands during the week, engaging in diplomacy and taking in the local hospitality.

Ardern on Friday said there was a range of issues facing the Pacific, including climate change, resource use and globalisation.

New Zealand and Australia’s role was to “amplify the voice of our Pacific neighbours and do so in partnership with them”, she said.

This year’s Pacific Mission will also take particular note of the recovery of Tonga and Samoa after Cyclone Gita in February.

Like many other New Zealanders tonight, I viewed the TVNZ News story of the family who lost their baby while under the care of Waikato Hospital with a mixture of sadness, horror and embarrassment.

Sadness, that ANY family had to go through that experience – my own family knows what it is like to lose a child in questionable circumstances, and wouldn’t wish that on any other family.

Horror, that the Board of Waikato DHB is being told one thing, while the facts coming out in the media are pointing to something else.

Embarrassment, that I am a member of a Board that is in the dark about this death, about the baby’s death reported last week, and about many other serious incidents, and is therefore not in a position to do anything to improve the situation for the future.

I am sad also that the hard work of Nurses, Doctors and other staff who care about their patients, is being let down by poor organisation, by underfunding, and unfortunately by a culture of denial within our DHB and, I suspect, all DHBs.

As a new Board member, I am upset by the sanitising of bad news to the point that we learn little and that no-one can ever be held accountable.

As an organisation, Waikato DHB will not improve until we genuinely admit our problems to ourselves, and confront the issues that need to be dealt with.

For example, we have a $32.5M deficit for this year, yet the Board Chair and the Minister of Health have stated in the media that there is no deficit. We will never get the funding our region needs to properly provide healthcare if our leaders deny there is a shortfall.

The Board has been told today (through a months-old internal review that Board members were not told about until just before the media story broke) that the DHB is not at fault for this latest horror case, yet according to TVNZ News, the ACC has investigated the case and found the care given the mother and child to be below standard.

Our Board is accountable for providing good quality healthcare to the Waikato region, and we are accountable for all that happens on our watch. We have to step up and take that role more seriously than has been the case.

The disuse of existing rail infrastructure in growing North West Auckland was labelled ‘a bloody shambles’ by members of the audience at the Helensville electorate ‘Trains to Huapai’ candidates’ debate today, Sunday 23 July.

Frustrations expressed by the audience about the absence of train services to the Kumeu, Waitakere and wider areas included increased costs and reduced access to key destinations, not just to get to work, but for education and shopping.

Election candidates across the board, responded by acknowledging the economic and social benefits of better public transport. Though unified in agreement on the value of public transport to the area, candidates differed in how they saw the solutions.

Chris Penk, the National Party candidate replacing John Key, said he would give rail his full attention, supporting a ‘first solution is the best’ approach. He argued that the rail network is already here, we should use it, with diesel shuttles in the first instance, and working towards electrification.

Helen Peterson representing New Zealand First, said her party’s policy is to support rail and that train services to Huapai should be part of an integrated network of buses and trains. “People prefer trains”, she reflected, and they also have clear access benefits for those on bikes or with disabilities.

The Labour Party is Kurt Taogaga, who said from his time growing up in Helensville he knows it’s a ‘public transport sinkhole’. He said he supports diesel rail services in the short term and that Labour wants to bring forward the development of a North Western Busway.

The Green Party’s Hayley Holt said her party support more buses, more frequently along a North Western busway which could eventually be a light rail system.

The Trains to Huapai campaign sought support from candidates for the proposal to run diesel shuttle services on the existing line, between Huapai and Swanson or Henderson.

Christine Rose, Chair of the Public Transport Users Association, and local resident, says despite shouldering massive growth, the area’s opportunities for the use of rail, are neglected. “Passenger rail here makes sense in so many ways – it provides capacity that’s not available within the crippled roading network, it efficiently uses existing infrastructure, and minimises ratepayer spend. It’s comfortable and quicker than bus to key destinations”.

Jon Reeves, co-ordinator of the Public Transport Users Association said the public were asking where were the Mayor, the Chair of Auckland Transport, and the Minister of Transport, “as they needed to be held accountable”. “We all want the council, the government and AT to be accountable for their failure to plan for and serve the area’s growth”.

Mrs Rose says locals are angry that Special Housing Areas of thousands of new homes have been forced upon the area. “We’ve got a railway line right there, and spare diesel trains”. “But in every transport funding announcement, whether its new battery trains for Pukekohe or a station in Drury, Huapai-Kumeu is ignored”.

Speaking in favour of the Trains to Huapai initiative, Chair of the North West District Business Association, Gary Holmes, said trains will facilitate the local tourism industry in a sustainable way, as well as providing access to the area for workers.

Local Board quote about we shouldn’t have to wait so long?

The Trains to Huapai campaigners say they elicited pledges of firm support for Trains to Huapai from the National, Labour and NZ First candidates, and a large turnout from the community on a cold winter’s day, giving them confidence in the proposal for the future.

Forest & Bird says New Zealand’s sea lions are in serious trouble, but the Sea Lion Threat Management Plan released today does not address the fishing industry’s deadly impact on the species.

The conservation organisation says NZ sea lions are the world’s rarest, and is calling for a zero by-kill goal in all fisheries.

“It’s good to see the Government’s Threat Management Plan aims to return NZ sea lions to non-threatened status, a key goal that thousands of our members called for, but the Plan still lacks specific actions that address the main human threat to sea lions – the squid trawling industry,” says Forest & Bird marine conservation advocate Katrina Goddard.

“We know of three female sea lions that have been killed in squid nets this season alone. If they were nursing, their dependent pups will also have died.”

NZ sea lions are nationally critical and have undergone a significant population decline, almost 50% over the last 2 decades. Multiple threats have caused this decline including drowning in squid nets, disease, and competition for squid.

“Forest & Bird acknowledge that no single threat is responsible for the overall species population decline, but we need to take immediate action on the threats we can stop. Squid can be fished from areas where nursing sea lions aren’t present, or by using sea lion friendly fishing methods such as jigging,” says Ms Goddard.

“Forest & Bird strongly support the proposed sea lion community engagement officer, more monitoring and targeted researched, but we fear the budget allocated does not go far enough to achieve all this.”

New footage of workers servicing a robot in the Pike River drift appears to show that going into the drift doesn’t pose the danger the Government and Solid Energy claimed, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little.

“The Government must immediately release all Pike footage and images, and explain why it has kept the public and the families in the dark for so long.

“This new footage casts doubt over the Government’s reasons for blocking a manned re-entry of the drift.

“The sight of men moving confidently inside the drift with only breathing masks on suggests this isn’t the excessively dangerous situation National and Solid Energy portray it as. National claims sending people into the drift would unduly risk their lives. Yet, here is film of two men calmly working in the drift, taking their time to make an ad hoc water cover for a robot.

“The robot footage shows the drift is in good shape, with even the pipes largely undamaged by the explosions. There’s nothing in the footage to support National’s claim the drift could collapse.

“The fact that the robot overheats and emits smoke yet no explosion is triggered makes a lie of Nick Smith’s claim that the 98% methane atmosphere in the drift is highly flammable. In fact, as the scientifically literate Nick Smith surely knows, methane cannot explode in a nearly pure methane atmosphere with little oxygen.

“It is disturbing that such important footage, which undercuts the Government’s reasons for stopping a re-entry into Pike, has been kept from the public eye for so long.

“Why haven’t the families or the public seen this footage before now? For years, the families have been calling for all footage and pictures taken inside Pike River since the explosion to be released. Yet, the Government still hasn’t released that material, and we have to rely on leaks to find out the truth.

“We know, from written questions, that the Government holds 24,000 images and 265GB of footage related to Pike River. The inevitable question, now, is: what other important material is the Government keeping hidden? The families and the public deserve to be able to see it all,” says Andrew Little.

New OECD data shows cutting taxes would be a big mistake for New Zealand, which instead needs to take in more tax from the wealthy to fund much-needed social programmes, Peter Malcolm, spokesman for the income equality project Closing the Gap, said today.

The just released OECD report “Taxing Wages 2017” shows income taxes on wage earners in New Zealand are among the lowest of the 35 OECD countries surveyed, but it’s important to note that GST, which hits poorer people the hardest, is not factored in, he said.

“But that tax burden needs to be much more progressive, staying low for lower earners, and expanding its reach to include things like capital gain, inheritances, financial transactions and rents on property and money.”

Mr. Malcolm said it was heartening to see more debate on issues like taxation this election year, because good tax policy is the best way of reducing inequality and, with wise spending, ending poverty.

“The bottom line is that no matter where we get our money — be it wages, investments, business, speculation — we should pay our fair share of tax, which in the end benefits us all,” he said.

We are calling for the New Zealand Government to bring approximately two dozen people currently held at an immigration detention centre in Kapung, Indonesia, to New Zealand to assess their asylum claims in New Zealand itself.

This is the first case in which the publicly available evidence indicates a group of people both intended to and had the capability to reach New Zealand territory by boat to seek asylum from persecution under the Refugee Convention. Their journey, however, was forcibly and illegally stopped by Australian authorities in international waters. This was done with the knowledge of the New Zealand Government, and possibly with their agreement or even instruction. The New Zealand Government has refused to release details about the incident under the Official Information Act.

We believe processing this group’s asylum claims in New Zealand is the only course of action that could meaningfully demonstrate the New Zealand Government is committed to uphold the spirit of the Refugee Convention, and is not complicit in Australia’s much condemned Operation Sovereign Borders.

Maire Leadbeater

Kevin McBride on behalf of Pax Christi Aotearoa-New Zealand

Ricardo Menéndez March

Shane Montague-Gallagher

Sam Taylor

Michael Tavares

Leilani Tamu

Shanti Ahluwalia

John Hart

Barry Coates MP

Damon Rusden

Stefan Grand-Meyer

Teall Crossen

Marama Davidson MP

Chris Perley

Golriz Ghahraman

Kate Fulton

Robert Stewart

Rochelle Surendran

Bridget Walsh

Richard Wesley

Teanau Tuiono

Thomas Nash

Jo Wrigley

Chloe Swarbrick

Background:

In May 2015, a group of asylum-seekers was intercepted by the Australian Navy and Border Force on their journey to New Zealand according to evidence published in an Amnesty International Australia report.[1] This incident – the interception and current detention of these asylum-seekers – most recently received coverage in the New Zealand media in early 2016.[2]

The Amnesty report finds that:

The boat was first intercepted in international waters, on 17 May, near East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, by two Australian ships: one Navy and one Border Force. …The crew members, who said they thought from their GPS that they were located in international waters, told the Australian officials that they did not have the right to board. Nevertheless, the Australian officials boarded and spent about half an hour inspecting the boat’s equipment and food supplies… then disembarked… The two Australian ships continued to follow the boat for several days, until – on 22 May – a second interception took place

The passengers were removed from their boat and put on two smaller, less seaworthy boats bound for Indonesia. After one boat ran out of fuel, the passengers had to transfer onto the other boat in the middle of the ocean. This boat then ran aground off the coast of Indonesia and the asylum-seekers were rescued by Indonesian fisherman, and subsequently detained by Indonesian authorities.

According to the Amnesty report, the asylum-seekers suffered abuse in the custody of Australian authorities, and their journey on the two less seaworthy boats seriously endangered their lives. Significantly, the actions of the Australian forces denied the group’s opportunity to claim asylum in New Zealand territory.

The Amnesty report states:

The crew and asylum-seekers – interviewed separately – consistently told Amnesty International that the boat was not in distress at the time of either interception on 17 or 22 May. The captain explicitly told Amnesty International: “No, we never made a distress call.” An asylum-seeker who was a fisherman and who told Amnesty International that he had 10 years of seafaring experience said:

“I don’t know why [the Australians] stopped us. We didn’t enter Australian territory, we had enough fuel, food, and everything to reach New Zealand – the boat was in good condition.”

He said he was confident that they could have reached their destination, and none of the asylum-seekers heard the crew members express any doubts about this either. When asked if the interception was a rescue operation, the asylum-seeker was categorical: “No, we were simply caught.” The other asylum-seekers agreed with him.

Given these circumstances, the pertinent question is whether these actions were conducted on behalf of the New Zealand Government. The New Zealand Prime Minister stated he had been informed about the group of asylum seekers and their ability and intention to land in New Zealand, and had engaged in discussions with the Australian and Indonesian authorities about the situation.[3] While Australia’s Operation Sovereign Borders has been rightly condemned[4], New Zealand’s role in this policy has thus far attracted little scrutiny.

Available information indicates the New Zealand Government has been interested in establishing an offshore asylum-seeker processing regime.

In 2010, Radio New Zealand reported that “[the New Zealand] Government is open to talks with Australia about a regional solution” and was in talks with “East Timorese President Jose Ramos Horta and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key” about off-shore processing.[5]

In 2013, the New Zealand Herald reported that “John Key and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced a deal for New Zealand [which] would also give New Zealand access to Australian intelligence and other resources to disrupt [boat arrivals]” and that “Mr Key said Australia was receptive to processing any mass arrival to New Zealand in its offshore centres in Nauru and Papua New Guinea.” [6] Michael Timmins, a refugee lawyer, writing in New Zealand Herald stated this agreement made New Zealand “clearly complicit in Australia’s … asylum system.” [7]

While this deal was never formally implemented due to a change in the Australian Prime Minister, it showed a willingness on the New Zealand Government’s part to play an active role in Australia’s ‘turnback’ policy.

In 2016, in a news segment regarding the Kapung case, the New Zealand Prime Minister stated in a press briefing that:

[t]here’s no question that their [the Australian authorities] vigilance there and the work that they’ve done is essentially discouraged people coming to New Zealand as well because some of those boats if they couldn’t have got to Australia would have tried to come to New Zealand. That’s certainly the indications that we’ve had. [8]

Considering this group of asylum seekers for resettlement in New Zealand as part of New Zealand’s refugee quota system, as suggested by Labour leader Andrew Little, would be a preferable outcome to letting these asylum-seekers languish in Indonesia in detention.[9] However, not processing their claims in New Zealand would suggest tacit approval by the New Zealand Government of Australia’s Operation Sovereign Borders which hopes to achieve just this type of outcome: forcibly turning away boats to countries that have not signed the Refugee Convention for offshore processing of asylum-seekers.

[3] On 3 June 2015, the NZ Herald reported: “Prime Minister John Key said New Zealand was alerted to the boat ‘some time ago’ and was working with Australia and Indonesia. He would not be more specific about what preparations were being made here. “We didn’t get to the point where we had to make some of those tougher calls” (see Nicholas Jones, “Key warning on boat people”, NZ Herald, 3 June 2015). Four days later, the paper reported that “Prime Minister John Key has previously said he had been advised that the boat heading for New Zealand had a credible chance of making it”

(see Nicholas Jones, “Asylum-seekers make plea for help to NZ Government”, NZ Herald, 7 June 2015).

[4] See, for example, the open letter signed by 53 legal scholars from Australia in which they state: “Australia’s reported conduct under Operation Sovereign Borders clearly violates international law, is inconsistent with Australia’s position as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and adherence to the United Nations Charter, and Australia’s frequent calls for East and Southeast Asian countries to respect international law in the resolution of territorial and maritime disputes” (see

“Statement By Legal Scholars Regarding The Situation Concerning Sri Lankan Asylum Seekers ”, Scribd, 7 July 2014). Similarly, the New York Times Editorial Board has written that “Australia is pursuing draconian measures to deter people without visas from entering the country by boat. In doing so, it is failing in its obligation under international accords to protect refugees fleeing persecution” (see “Australia’s Refugee Problem”, NYT, 4 July 2014).

[5] “NZ should stay out of Australia’s refugee problem – Labour”, Radio NZ, 8 July 2010.

[9] See Nicholas Jones,”Boat people ask for asylum,” NZ Herald. Boat people ask for asylum, 8 June 2015: “Labour leader Andrew Little said authorities should investigate whether the group were genuine refugees, and if so, consider processing them as part of New Zealand’s quota.”

Some families affected by violence these holidays will be using state-of-the-art technology to access justice, and the law firm behind it is eager to put it to the test.

Refuges in Greymouth, Westport, Christchurch, Kaikoura, Blenheim, Nelson and Masterton have access to immediate legal assistance through an initiative that has been three years in the making, and is unique in New Zealand.

The concept, which is a partnership between Women’s Refuge and Ebborn Law, enables women being assisted by a refuge to seek court orders for protection of themselves and their children over a secure audio-visual link. The system is staffed by expert family lawyers and means refuge workers save precious time when seeking a family legal aid lawyer for their client.

According to Women’s Refuge, over 6000 women and children across the country needed assistance with family violence matters last holiday season. There is no indication that number will fall this year.

“The holiday season always brings added pressure to family dynamics and in some cases this can bubble over into physical or other types of violence,” says Ebborn Law Principal Solicitor Erin Ebborn. “Through providing a safe and convenient way to access a lawyer over this time, we hope to make the jobs of refuge staff a little bit easier.”

The system Ebborn Law has developed uses secure peer-to-peer video conferencing technology over a virtual private network to ensure absolute privacy and data protection. The refuge facilities include a digital printer/scanner so legal documents can be printed directly to the refuge from Ebborn Law’s Christchurch base. This allows women affected by family violence to stay in a safe and comforting environment when dealing with a lawyer – sometimes a process that can be daunting.

“Eight of us will be on duty between Christmas and New Year and we expect to be busy. The refuge staff, too, will be working very hard over that time”, says Erin Ebborn, “But also consider the staff at the Family Court, the duty Judges, the Police, social workers and myriad others who give up their holidays to be the sheroes and heroes for families affected by violence. It’s a big deal and it would be a wonderful Christmas present if people across New Zealand took some time to appreciate the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.”

Women’s Refuge have urged families and whanau to look out for their friends, family and neighbours, and to call the Police immediately if they suspect someone is in danger. There is a crisis number (0800 733 843) available anyone can call if they have any concerns for family members and would like advice on how to help them.

“It’s a bad look for Waikato District Health Board to be dragging the chain on disclosing the expenses of its chief executive,” says Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS).

He was commenting on reports that the State Services Commission is “disappointed” that Waikato DHB has not disclosed Chief Executive Nigel Murray’s expenses since he took up the job in 2014 (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11758623).

The DHB has reportedly attributed the delays with disclosing these expenses to technical issues, but Mr Powell says that’s not good enough.

“The State Services Commission expects annual disclosure by DHB chief executives and so does the public and the senior doctors and others working in the health sector,” he says. “It is very unusual for the State Services Commissioner to be so publicly critical of a chief executive. ‘Technical’ reasons are a poor excuse.

“It’s a serious double standard at a time when public hospitals are under unprecedented financial pressure, and it needs to be sorted out pronto.”

“Transparency within our public hospitals needs to be led from the top.”

The deal between Corrections and private prison operator Serco over its chaotic management of Mount Eden prison is a fitting end to a shambolic episode, the Public Service Association says.
Corrections minister Judith Collins has announced Serco will pay $8 million to her department to cover the costs of its stepping in to manage the troubled Mount Eden Correctional Facility last July.

She’s also confirmed Corrections will continue to manage the prison until March next year, with Serco supplying personnel only and making no profit.

The PSA, New Zealand’s largest union in Corrections, is welcoming the news.

Today the government announced its post 2020 climate change target as 30% emission reduction from 2005 levels by 2030. This target is equivalent to about a 11% reduction from 1990 levels, which is less than John Key pledged at the climate negotiations in Copenhagen in 2009.

“While a 30% target might sound ok, the government is hiding behind jargon to try to convince the New Zealand public that they are behaving responsibly on climate change” said Niamh O’Flynn, National Coordinator of 350 Aotearoa.

“In reality, this target leaves NZ at the bottom of the pile with the other countries who lag behind and refuse to play fair and actually commit to reducing their emissions.”

Over 17,000 submissions were made on the government’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), and 99% of those who suggested targets, suggested emissions cuts of at least 40% from 1990 levels by 2050.

Globally, the call for action on climate change is being joined by major voices. In his encyclical, the Pope recently urged for developed countries (such as New Zealand), to take swift climate action.

“This just goes to show that we cannot rely on the government to listen to the people and lead the way on climate change. This year in Paris, Tim Grosser will not be representing New Zealand, but the views of a minority who still refuse to take climate change seriously.We need to stop dealing in jargon, and start taking real climate action. We owe it to ourselves, to our neighbours in the Pacific, and to the other nations of the world.”

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) is voicing its support for demonstrators who are rallying at the Cenotaph steps outside of Parliament calling for KiwiRail to reinvest in an electric fleet says RMTU organiser Todd Valster.

“KiwiRail is currently considering downgrading its electric fleet on the North Island Main Trunk Line to a diesel-powered fleet.”

“While the rest of the world is transitioning to clean energy, KiwiRail is considering a downgrade. This isn’t the future, Diesel-powered locomotives are the past,” says Valster.

“Over 4000 people have emailed KiwiRail asking for CEO Peter Reidy to invest in an electric fleet. The public is behind clean energy, even if KiwiRail and the government aren’t.”

“We need clean energy and clean jobs,” says Valster.

Demonstrators are gathering at the Cenotaph Steps outside of Parliament at midday on Wednesday.

Coal Action Network Aotearoa today congratulated the Greenpeace climbers on the roof of Parliament drawing attention to the lack of Government action on climate change.

“Who is the bigger threat to security here: John Key’s apparent intention of letting global temperatures rise by 4degC by taking virtually no action – or four peaceful activists and a few solar panels on a roof?” asked Jeanette Fitzsimons of CANA.

The Greenpeace action comes on the back of a Dutch Court yesterday ordering its Government to increase its 2020 emissions reduction target of 17% to at least 25%. New Zealand’s target is 5 percent.

“The Dutch Government’s 2020 target was already better than New Zealand’s – yet the court ordered it to increase that target in order to ‘protect its citizens’. The world is moving to tackle climate change, yet New Zealand seems intent on doing as little as possible,” said Cindy Baxter, of CANA.

Local supermarket giant Foodstuffs is proposing the closure of 5 of its 12 Gilmours and Toops food trade stores in the North Island, but FIRST Union General Secretary Robert Reid is questioning the business case to support the closures.

“Foodstuff’s proposal could see almost 130 jobs disestablished across Gilmours and Toops stores in Henderson, Panmure, Rotorua, New Plymouth and Napier with the 7 remaining stores transitioning to an owner-operator model under a new brand.”

“Yet, in the upper North Island where Gilmours stores have already transitioned to the owner-operator model, workers have reported little to no improvement in business,” says Reid.

“It seems counterintuitive to extend a model which has yet to prove successful.”

“Meanwhile, in Napier the local business community is joining forces with workers to save their Toops warehouse. The community held a rally outside the store last Friday with local MP Stuart Nash and Labour leader Andrew Little. Large and unexpected closures like this cause significant hardship for workers and their families and what Hawkes Bay business owner is going to drive 4 hours to Palmerston North and back to purchase food supplies?”

“We are urging Foodstuffs to reconsider their proposal,” says Reid.

It is understood that Foodstuffs will announce a decision this Friday.

FIRST Union, New Zealand’s second largest private sector union, is going international with the launch of Samoa’s only private sector union, Samoa First Union.

“Samoa First Union is building on the legacy of former private sector unions like the old National Union of Workers,” says Samoa First Union co-ordinator Jerome Mika, “but our union differs because we have the benefit of support from an established union in New Zealand.”

“This means Samoa First Union will be sustainable.”

“Samoa became an International Labour Organisation member in 2005, but it lacks a general union for the private sector. There are strong unions in the public sector but without a general private sector union many workplace problems are going unresolved,” says Mika.

“After the Labour and Employment Relations Act 2013 came into force in 2014 we felt there was a renewed need for a general private sector union to inform and empower workers in Samoa.”

“And now, with the backing of FIRST Union New Zealand and the assistance of Sapolu Law, Samoa First Union will launch in Apia on 29 June 2015,” says Mika.

“The first target for our union organisers will be the major banks and hotels, areas where FIRST Union New Zealand – the retail and finance sector union – has particular expertise.”

“With a growing membership base in New Zealand and now a presence overseas, who says unions are dead?”

Child Poverty Action Group is urging the government to rethink and improve its 2015 Budget announcements on benefit changes in light of the OECD’s latest report on the New Zealand economy.

CPAG says the new report, OECD Economic Surveys NEW ZEALAND, has some compelling messages for the government on policy to reduce poverty.

The 2015 budget increases social welfare benefits by a flat $25 per family in 2016. CPAG economics spokesperson Susan St John says, “This will make the benefit structure less transparent by reintroducing a child-related element into the adult benefit. It is a very poor way to help children, as it takes no account of the number of children in a family or their ages. Furthermore, all beneficiaries need more income not just some. The disappointingly long lead-in time for this policy change gives an opportunity to improve it and make it more effective.”

CPAG would like to see all benefits immediately lifted by 10% and then indexed to median wages and says this link to wages is crucial. The OECD makes a very strong recommendation:

“Increasing main (basic) benefits and indexing them to median wages would reduce poverty across all beneficiary classes, including single-person households (below age 65), who have the second-highest relative risk of poverty.”

The OECD notes that the use of supplementary means-tested payments for the very worst off families has been part of why living standards of those on benefit have fallen so far behind:

“Poverty rates could be cut by increasing social benefits, which have been falling relative to wages as they are indexed to the Consumers Price Index In addition to these main benefits, most beneficiaries receive supplementary benefits (a variety of means-tested benefits available to both beneficiary and working households) targeted at vulnerable families. However, increases in supplementary benefit payments have been smaller for beneficiary households than for low-income working households owing to the introduction of Working for Families, which provides greater benefits to low-income working households than beneficiaries.”

Once adult benefits are increased and indexed, Working for Families Tax credits are the best way to recognise the needs of children in low income households, says Susan St John. “These need to be given to all low income children on the same basis if we are serious about reducing child poverty. The changes to Working for Families announced in Budget 2015 only help those families who meet rigid work criteria and make very minor adjustments to the work-related tax credits. The Government needs to build on what has been started in this year’s budget and develop a long-term, comprehensive plan to reduce poverty.”

ENDS

]]>https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/06/18/oecd-report-indicates-better-policy-needed-to-reduce-poverty-in-nz/feed/183% of Submissions To Christchurch City Council On Asset Sales Opposed Themhttps://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/06/11/83-of-submissions-to-christchurch-city-council-on-asset-sales-opposed-them/
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/06/11/83-of-submissions-to-christchurch-city-council-on-asset-sales-opposed-them/#commentsThu, 11 Jun 2015 07:04:53 +0000http://thedailyblog.co.nz/?p=59980Extract from Christchurch City Council’s staff analysis of submissions received on Long Term Plan

· For submissions commenting on funding the proposals in the LTP, just 4 percent were in support of the proposed rates increases.

· For submissions commenting specifically on the Anchor Projects, 68 percent expressed opposition to funding proposals for them.
Many of the submissions opposing asset sales referred to the Anchor Projects as a reason for doing so”.

]]>https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/06/11/83-of-submissions-to-christchurch-city-council-on-asset-sales-opposed-them/feed/4Why are we sending women with children to prison?https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/06/06/why-are-we-sending-women-with-children-to-prison/
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/06/06/why-are-we-sending-women-with-children-to-prison/#commentsFri, 05 Jun 2015 20:18:12 +0000http://thedailyblog.co.nz/?p=59782

The costs for children when a parent is incarcerated are very high, with 20,000 children affected.

CPAG commends the Social Policy Evaluation and Research Unit (Families Commission) for highlighting a social problem of immense proportions but very low visibility.

Parents who commit crimes are not the only ones who pay when they are sent to jail. The incarceration of a father can have long term detrimental effects on a child’s development. When mothers as principal caregivers of young children are sent to jail the consequences on children can be devastating. This report is a timely reminder of the needs of this neglected group.

In the CPAG report the pointlessness and vindictiveness of custodial sentences for so called ‘relationship fraud’ is highlighted. “Sending a mother to prison is a disproportionate penalty, especially when compared with what happens in cases of tax fraud and yet it happens so frequently”.

“It costs (the) taxpayers over $100,000 to keep a mother in jail for a year, and the cost of placing her children in alternative care as well. The custodial sentence, or even home detention, often makes it impossible for her to earn to meet the repayments demanded let alone care adequately for her children.” says Anderson. “A thorough examination of the whole basis of prosecution for relationship fraud is long overdue. Our policy desperately needs to be aligned with 21st century living arrangements”.

The latest damning report by the Auditor General shows that the ACC Minister has failed to fulfil her mission to fix the sick culture at ACC and real change will not come till a new Government is elected, the Green Party said today.

An investigation by the Auditor General, just published online, is critical of the way ACC handles complaints from complainants, describing it as “not effective”, non-responsive, flawed and failing at times to even record complaints as complaints.

“The Green Party is just one of several groups and individuals who have been pointing out the failures in the ACC complaints system for years,” Green Party ACC spokesperson Kevin Hague said.

“It’s unacceptable that it’s taken the Auditor General to report again before ACC takes long-standing concerns about its complaints process seriously.

“ACC Minister Judith Collins came into the job over two years ago claiming she’d fix up the culture of disentitlement at ACC, but this report shows she has failed in that mission.

“The only real solution is to change the Government and get ACC back to its core principles.

“Again, the Auditor General has shown that ACC views its role to be about cutting costs and its default position is to decline claimants and saving money.

“The Green Party has previously laid out a ten point plan for rehabilitating ACC and bring it back to the core principles it was founded on.

“The latest Auditor General investigation shows how an ACC ombudsman is urgently needed to deal with ACC’s poor complaints processes, and the high number of ACC decisions that are overturned on appeal.

“ACC is suffering from multiple system failures driven by a very sick culture that the Minister has failed to change,” Mr Hague said.

NATION-WIDE ‘DAY OF ACTION’ AGAINST ISRAEL’S WAR ON GAZA & FOR FREE PALESTINE

THIS SATURDAY 16 AUGUST

Here are the FaceBook Events pages for each of the cities where activities are planned. As more details are confirmed, we will update this information.

It’s important that our voices are heard loud and clear. The whole world is outraged and demanding Israel immediately stops it’s genocidal war against Gaza, end it’s siege, end the occupation, stop the annexations, and release the Palestinians prisoners.

The judges for 2014 are: David Small, a lawyer and Senior Lecturer in Education at the University of Canterbury; Dean Parker, Auckland writer and former Writers’ Guild delegate to the CTU; Dennis Maga, union activist from the May First Movement Philippines, organiser of FIRST Union and founder of Migrante and UNEMIG;Paul Maunder, cultural worker, curator of Blackball Museum of Working Class History and coordinator of Unions West Coast; and Sue Bradford, community activist, lecturer in social practice at Unitec and former Green MP.

They will be given a shortlist of finalists.

The winner(s) will be announced at a Christchurch event on May 1, 2015.

Nominations:

You can nominate the same transnational as last year as long as the nomination is about their misdeeds in 2014. Please send as much detail as you can (hard copy or e-mailed as Word attachments), including newspaper clippings and reports, but you do not have to do all the research. Just quote sources if you can.

Accomplice Award:

You may also nominate an organisation (not an individual) which has been the worst Accomplice in 2014 in aiding and abetting transnational corporations in New Zealand to behave as described in the criteria. The Accomplice’s award is in addition to the Worst Transnational Corporation award and will not necessarily be awarded every year. You may nominate for either or both awards.

Nominations close on October 31, 2014. You can send in your nomination via the online form, or by snail mail to

Headline: Afghanistan: No justice for thousands of civilians killed in US/NATO operations

The families of thousands of Afghan civilians killed by US/NATO forces in Afghanistan have been left without justice, Amnesty International said in a new report released today. Focusing primarily on air strikes and night raids carried out by US forces, including Special Operations Forces, Left in the Dark finds that even apparent war crimes have gone uninvestigated and unpunished.

“Thousands of Afghans have been killed or injured by US forces since the invasion, but the victims and their families have little chance of redress. The US military justice system almost always fails to hold its soldiers accountable for unlawful killings and other abuses,” said Richard Bennett, Amnesty International’s Asia Pacific Director.

“None of the cases that we looked into – involving more than 140 civilian deaths – were prosecuted by the US military. Evidence of possible war crimes and unlawful killings has seemingly been ignored.”

The report documents in detail the failures of accountability for US military operations in Afghanistan. It calls on the Afghan government to ensure that accountability for unlawful civilian killings is guaranteed in any future bilateral security agreements signed with NATO and the United States.

Amnesty International conducted detailed investigations of 10 incidents that took place between 2009 and 2013, in which civilians were killed by US military operations. At least 140 civilians were killed in the incidents that Amnesty International investigated, including pregnant women and at least 50 children. The organization interviewed some 125 witnesses, victims and family members, including many who had never given testimony to anyone before.

Two of the case studies — involving a Special Operations Forces raid on a house in Paktia province in 2010, and enforced disappearances, torture, and killings in Nerkh and Maidan Shahr districts, Wardak province, in November 2012 to February 2013 — involve abundant and compelling evidence of war crimes. No one has been criminally prosecuted for either of the incidents.

Qandi Agha, a former detainee held by US Special Forces in Nerkh in late 2012, spoke of the daily torture sessions he endured. “Four people beat me with cables. They tied my legs together and beat the soles of my feet with a wooden stick. They punched me in the face and kicked me. They hit my head on the floor.” He also said he was dunked in a barrel of water and given electrical shocks.

Agha said that both US and Afghan forces participated in the torture sessions. He also said that four of the eight prisoners held with him were killed while he was in US custody, including one person, Sayed Muhammed, whose killing he witnessed.

Formal criminal investigations into the killing of civilians in Afghanistan are extremely rare. Amnesty International is aware of only six cases since 2009 in which US military personnel have faced trials.

Under international humanitarian law (the laws of war), not every civilian death occurring in armed conflict implies a legal breach. Yet if civilians appear to have been killed deliberately or indiscriminately, or as part of a disproportionate attack, the incident requires a prompt, thorough and impartial inquiry. If that inquiry shows that the laws of war were violated, a prosecution should be initiated.

Of the scores of witnesses, victims and family members Amnesty International spoke to when researching this report, only two people said that they had been interviewed by US military investigators. In many of the cases covered in the report, US military or NATO spokespeople would announce that an investigation was being carried out, but would not release any further information about the progress of the investigation or its findings – leaving victims and family members in the dark.

“We urge the US military to immediately investigate all the cases documented in our report, and all other cases where civilians have been killed. The victims and their family members deserve justice,” said Richard Bennett.

The main obstacle to justice for Afghan victims and their family members is the deeply flawed US military justice system.

Essentially a form of self-policing, the military justice system is “commander-driven” and, to a large extent, relies on soldiers’ own accounts of their actions in assessing the legality of a given operation. Lacking independent prosecutorial authorities, it expects soldiers and commanders to report potential human rights violations themselves. The conflict of interest is clear.

In the rare instances when a case actually reaches the prosecution stage, there are serious concerns about the lack of independence of US military courts. It is extremely rare that Afghans themselves are invited to testify in these cases.

“There is an urgent need to reform the US military justice system. The US should learn from other countries, many of which have made huge strides in recent years in civilianizing their military justice systems,” said Richard Bennett.

The report also documents the lack of transparency on investigations and prosecutions of unlawful killings of civilians in Afghanistan. The US military withholds overall data on accountability for civilian casualties, and rarely provides information on individual cases. The US government’s freedom of information system, meant to ensure transparency when government bodies fail to provide information, does not function effectively when civilian casualties are at issue.

Amnesty International also urges the Afghan government to immediately establish its own mechanism to investigate abuses by the Afghan National Security forces, who will assume full combat responsibility by the end of 2014.

Christchurch Amnesty International members are celebrating the news that Chinese dissident, Gao Zhisheng, has been released from prison.

Mr Gao, a prominent human rights lawyer, was sentenced to three years in prison in 2011 for ‘violating probation rule’ on earlier charges of ‘inciting subversion’. Christchurch Amnesty International group adopted the case of Mr Gao in 2012 and have been campaigning for his release ever since, including holding a birthday party for him at Café 8 on New Regent Street earlier in the year.

“We’re thrilled with the news that Gao is finally out” says group spokesperson Stefan Fairweather.

“Mr Gao was imprisoned on trumped up charges. He has been into bat for religious minorities, Falun Gong and has defended other human rights activists in China and for simply doing his job, he was put in prison. This is wrong and shouldn’t be tolerated”.

Amnesty International, along with US, European Union and the United Nations had repeatedly called on the Chinese authorities to release him.

The decision convicting two of Cambodia’s most senior former Khmer Rouge officials for crimes against humanity at the country’s UN-backed Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) is an important step towards justice, Amnesty International said.

“This long-awaited ruling is an important step towards justice for the victims of the Khmer Rouge period and highlights the importance of addressing impunity.”

“But the earlier refusal of senior Cambodian government officials to give evidence, as well as allegations of political interference in other ECCC cases, is troubling and raises concerns around the fairness of the proceedings and respect for victims’ right to hear the full truth regarding the alleged crimes.”

“Fair and effective trials are crucial if the ECCC is to leave a lasting legacy which strengthens Cambodia’s very fragile judicial system and contributes towards ending the deep culture of impunity.

“The ECCC must complete all of its cases in a timely and fair manner without political interference. This will require the full support of the Cambodian government and the international community.”

“Amnesty International welcomes the Chamber’s decision to endorse 11 reparation projects for victims and calls for them to be fully implemented. However, much more must also be done by the government of Cambodia towards repairing the harm suffered by victims.”

Background

The ECCC, known as the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, today delivered the verdict in Case 002/01, sentencing Nuon Chea, 88, and Khieu Samphan, 83, to life imprisonment.

Nuon Chea, the former second in command of the Khmer Rouge regime, and Khieu Samphan, the regime’s former Head of State, faced a number of charges, including the forced movement of the population from Phnom Penh and elsewhere, and the execution of soldiers of the Khmer Republic – the regime topped by the Khmer Rouge.

Almost 4,000 victims have been able to participate as Civil Parties in case 002/01, with rights as full parties to the case, including legal representation andopportunities to request investigative acts and call and question witnesses. Before the ECCC, no other international criminal tribunal trying crimes underinternational law had given victims a formal status during the proceedings.

Recognizing that Nuon Chea and and Khieu Samphan are indigent, the Chamber decided not to order the two men to provide reparation to the victims. Instead, the Chamber endorsed 11 reparation projects which have secured external funding. Two other projects were not endorsed because of insufficient information and lack of external funding.

Last week, the ECCC held an initial hearing in Case 002/02, the second case against Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan, where a wider set of allegations including genocide will be considered.

Investigations into two further cases involving a total of four suspects should also be under way, but have suffered from apparent political interference and obstruction that have delayed justice and denied rights to suspects and victims alike.

Headline: Mounting evidence of deliberate attacks on Gaza health workers by Israeli army

An immediate investigation is needed into mounting evidence that the Israel Defense Forces launched apparently deliberate attacks against hospitals and health professionals in Gaza, which have left six medics dead, said Amnesty International as it released disturbing testimonies from doctors, nurses, and ambulance personnel working in the area.

“The harrowing descriptions by ambulance drivers and other medics of the utterly impossible situation in which they have to work, with bombs and bullets killing or injuring their colleagues as they try to save lives, paint a grim reality of life in Gaza,” said Philip Luther, Middle East and North Africa Director at Amnesty International.

“Even more alarming is the mounting evidence that the Israeli army has targeted health facilities or professionals. Such attacks are absolutely prohibited by international law and would amount to war crimes. They only add to the already compelling argument that the situation should be referred to the International Criminal Court.”

Hospitals, doctors and ambulance staff, including those trying to evacuate people injured in Israeli attacks, have come under increased fire since 17 July.

Some medical teams have even been prevented from reaching critical areas altogether, leaving hundreds of injured civilians without access to life-saving help and entire families without assistance in removing the bodies of their loved ones.

Jaber Khalil Abu Rumileh, who supervises ambulance services in the Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital, told Amnesty International of a shelling attack on the medical facility on 21 July that lasted for half an hour.

“It was 3pm and I was working in the emergency unit. I heard bombing that shook the hospital. It was a shelling that had hit the fourth floor, the pregnancy and caesarean unit. Then there were a few more hits. People were terrified, patients ran out, doctors could not enter to help the injured and remove the dead. Then the third floor was hit and four people were killed. I saw one women come running with the child she just gave birth to. Some women gave birth during the shelling.”

Mohammad Abu Jumiza is partially deaf after suffering head injuries during an attack that took place while he was transferring injured people in his ambulance in Khan Younis on 24 July.

“We were on our way back to Nasser hospital, driving with the lights and sirens on as always. The ambulance was clearly marked as such. The doctor, nurse and I were all wearing medical uniforms. When we reached the Islamic University I heard an explosion right next to us and the front and back windows of the car fell out. As I was turning another missile hit next to us, and then a third one. When the fourth missile hit, I lost control and we crashed, so we ran out of the car and found shelter in a building. Then there were two more missiles fired and some people were injured.”

Dr Bashar Murad, director of Palestinian Red Crescent Society’s (PRCS) emergency and ambulance unit, said that since the conflict started at least two PRCS ambulance workers had been killed, at least 35 had been injured and 17 health vehicles had been left out of service after attacks by the Israeli army.

“Our ambulances are often targeted although they are clearly marked and display all signs that they are ambulances. The army should be able to distinguish from the air that what they targeting are ambulances,” he said.

Ambulance worker Mohammad Al-Abadlah was killed on 25 July. He was in Qarara to help an injured person when he was shot in the hip and chest with gunfire and bled to death. Mohammad was travelling in a visibly marked ambulance and was wearing his medical uniform. Colleagues who approached him to help him were also shot at but were not injured.

A’ed Mustafa Bur’i, another ambulance worker, was burned to death on 25 July in Beit Hanoon after a shell hit the clearly marked vehicle he was travelling in.

Hospitals across the Gaza Strip are also suffering from fuel and power shortages, inadequate water supply, and shortages of essential drugs and medical equipment. Such shortages, already prevalent due to Israel’s seven-year blockade, have been made much worse during the current hostilities.

Headline: Labour’s regional development fund to support Palmerston North

Labour will consider a proposal to develop an inland port at Palmerston North, Labour Leader David Cunliffe says.

“The Palmerston North community has developed plans for an inland port which will bring jobs and economic growth to a region which has been badly neglected by this Government,” says David Cunliffe who has been meeting with people in the Manawatu today.

“We will examine the merits of this proposal for support under our Regional Development Fund. This $200 million fund targets co-investment in infrastructure and industry projects which create economic step-changes for our regions.

“Unemployment in Manawatu/Whanganui has almost doubled under this National Government. But a Labour Government will back the Manawatu. There is a real buzz in Palmerston North about the potential to take this region forward.”

Labour’s MP for Palmerston North Iain Lees-Galloway says an inland port could be great news for the city.

“This is the kind of hope Palmerston North needs after being neglected by the National Government for the past six years. We will also be looking at food innovation projects. The Manawatu could be a leading high-value food incubator with backing from Government.”

The Labour Leader and Iain Lees-Galloway today visited Massey University and Food HQ.

David Cunliffe says Labour’s manufacturing upgrade and research and development tax credits would drive the regional growth Manawatu so desperately needs.

“We need a Government committed to backing regional centres to achieve their potential,” he says.

New Zealanders will be pleased to see progress on the identification and cleaning up of toxic sites. The Green Party is proud of the role we have played in working with the Government to make this happen.

The Green Party is celebrating the announcement of a national register of contaminated sites today, and $2.5 million to start cleaning two sites up.

The Green Party and the National Party agreed to include toxic site management work in their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2011. Today the Government has announced funding for two sites to be cleaned up, and a prioritised list of ten sites with issues.

“This national register is a big step forward, and it’s great that the Government is using robust criteria following input from the Green Party,” said Green Party toxics spokesperson Catherine Delahunty.

“New Zealanders will be pleased to see progress on the identification and cleaning up of toxic sites. The Green Party is proud of the role we have played in working with the Government to make this happen.

“It’s as a result of the MoU that there is a National Register of contaminated sites. New Zealanders love their country and have a right to know where contaminated sites are.

“The involvement of local communities in these clean-up projects is vital.

“We’re pleased that the national register has been established. We’re also working with the Government and Local Government New Zealand on ensuring greater transparency and consistency for the regional registers,” said Ms Delahunty.

“This an example of the Green Party’s proven leadership, working with others where there is common ground to achieve good green change,” said Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman.

The Tui Mine remediation project – which was MoU – recently won the Arthur Mead Award, presented by the Auckland branch of the Institute of Professional Engineers New Zealand.

“The recent award for the Tui Mine clean-up’s shows that toxic site clean-ups can be done, and can be done well,” said Ms Delahunty.

Headline: Oxfam gears up its aid effort to help people affected by fighting in Iraq

Over 1.2 million people have been displaced as a result of fighting in Central and Northern Iraq and an estimated 1.5 million people are now in need of humanitarian assistance. Many have fled their homes and are in desperate need of food, shelter, medicine, water and sanitation.

Oxfam’s Iraq Country Representative Wael Ibrahim said : “The situation is deteriorating day by day and our priority is to get to as many people as quickly as possible, families have been completely traumatised by the situation and are constantly on the move looking for safety. Our priority is to be ready to assist them with crucial aid and try to be ahead of the situation by ensuring we are in the right place ready to deliver safe water and sanitation.”

Oxfam is on the ground and planning to work with partners to reach around 50,000 people over the next 3 months with safe water and sanitation.

The Southern DHB is so cash-strapped it is failing to fill nursing rosters, Labour’s Associate Health spokesperson David Clark says.

“Every day emergency department nurses arrive at work knowing they are likely to be carrying more than their recommended workload.

“Nurses have a duty of care and are loyal to the core, so they have put up with additional work and growing stress every day for the last few years. However patient and nurse safety is compromised when professionally recommended staffing ratios are not maintained.

“That’s not helped by the increasing numbers of people turning up at EDs because they can’t afford to go to their own doctor.

“Australasian studies suggest emergency departments maintain a minimum 1:3 nurse to patient ratio of immediately available staff. When a patient is critical more nurses are required. Three nurses are required for each critical patient, leaving fewer available for subsequent patients.

“A stretch ratio of 1:4 is typically operated during shifts at the emergency department in Dunedin, with a 1:5 ratio common at night.

“But it gets worse. A ratio of 1:10 is not unheard of on night shift. On Sunday just past, the nurse to patient ratio dropped to 1:8 for close on an hour. In such situations, one or two critical patients can tie up much of the available staffing resource, leaving the care of subsequent ED arrivals compromised.

“A first-world health system should not put nurses in situations that blatantly breach professional standards. Their goodwill cannot be abused forever, and patient safety is at stake.

“It is clear that National’s underfunding of health is putting patient lives at risk. Labour’s investment in health will ease the pressure on EDs by providing free GP visits to thousands more Kiwis,” David Clark said.

Headline: Canterbury Group Calls for Government to Close Israeli Embassy

Palestinian Child Victims To Be Remembered This Saturday

“We can no longer sit silently and watch this appalling atrocity.”

That from one of the organisers of a rally planned in Christchurch this weekend where more than 300 white balloons, each bearing a name of a dead Palestinian child, will be released.

In loving memory of the hundreds of innocent Palestinian children killed since July 8th, the balloons will be released during the rally organised by ‘Canterbury for Justice in Palestine’, marking a National Day of Action to end Israel’s massacre in Gaza.

One of the rally organisers, Lauren McGee says the New Zealand Government must take action now.

“We are calling on the Government to close the Israeli Embassy in Wellington,” she says. “Enough is enough and we must show the world that this continuing murder of women and children is totally unacceptable to New Zealand and New Zealanders.”

McGee says she expects the balloon release on Saturday will illustrate the very high and rising number of innocent children dying in Gaza.

“As the white balloons make their journey upwards, we invite each observer to reflect on the monstrous crime of knowingly killing defenceless children. Every balloon is, or was, a young life. Many of our organisers are mothers with their own children; it’s heart-breaking, it has to stop,” she says.

“We encourage people to bring their own white balloon and join this short protest march starting at the Riccarton Road/Deans Avenue intersection at 2.30pm this Saturday August 16th.”

Emma Thompson is currently in the Arctic aboard the Greenpeace ship Esperanza. She wrote these words after walking out onto the fragile sea ice for the first time alongside her 14 year old daughter Gaia.
We’re told that it is all our fault, global warming — we want the fuel, we want our cars, and that the oil industry is merely responding to the needs of a greedy public. But that’s simply not fair. Most of us want to live cleaner lives, but our governments don’t make these things easily available.
The changes we need, that the Arctic needs, must come from the top as well as the bottom. We need electric cars to be cheaper and more accessible. We want safer bike lanes in every big city. We want plastic bags to be banned for good. We need governments to stand up to the dirty industries that have for so long funded and controlled them, and to give us all an affordable chance to live our lives in a more sustainable way.
Yes, keep recycling; keep using your own shopping bags, taking transit and using your bike. But also use your voice. Know that you have power and you can make your government listen. Above all, I hope that people stop feeling so guilty and powerless about climate change. That’s the lie that keeps us paralysed when really together, we are so much more powerful.
But bear in mind that politicians often lose sight of issues that aren’t in front of them all the time. They can end up ignoring even something like climate change, which is possibly the most pressing challenge of our time. So we all need to be bold. Attend a rally, write to your local leaders. If tens of millions of us just wrote to our leaders demanding action on the Arctic and climate change, well – that could change everything.
Please join me, and five million others so far. Visit www.savethearctic.org/emma

Sometimes you just have to take a stand. Greenpeace’s win yesterday in the Supreme Court in a precedent setting case about an arcane charity law was one of those times. The story goes back years, when Greenpeace first started applying for charitable status. The Charities Commission (as it then was) said that although the bulk of Greenpeace’s purposes could be considered charitable, the purpose of promoting peace and disarmament was too political and was enough to block its application.Believe it or not, New Zealand’s charities law dates from a 14th century poem and a 17th century English statute. The so-called ‘political’ exception in contrast is comparatively recent: it stems from an English 1917 case called Bowman, about whether a charity promoting secular society could be charitable. The House of Lords held that it could not because it was ‘political’, stating that: “the Court has no means of judging whether a proposed change in the law will or will not be for the public benefit, and therefore cannot say that a gift to secure the change is a charitable gift”.A 1948 case about vivisection came to the same conclusion: a purpose to change the law was political, and could not be charitable. In a 1981 New Zealand Court of Appeal case called Molloy, an anti abortion group, who was opposing rather than proposing a change in the abortion legislation, was considered to be political and therefore could not be charitable. Then in what in my view was the low-point in this legal debate, a 1981 UK court ruled in a case called McGovern, that Amnesty International could not be charitable, because they promoted changes in government policies. Even advocating change in another country’s laws was considered too ‘political’.”Hard cases make bad law”, said V. S. Lean in 1903 and at the time of Bowman, there was very little community interface with the legislative process. Half the population, being women, couldn’t even vote.In the 21st Century western democracies’ modern participatory democracy encourages freedom of speech and participation in the democratic processes. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) routinely make presentations to government Select Committees and are encouraged too. They also write editorials and speak to the media and their MPs about important but controversial issues. NGOs are seen as a necessary check and balance in our democratic process. By 2010, the tide had turned, at least in Australia. The Australian High Court, in a case about the organisation Aid/Watch, who monitored how aid was spent, said that there is intrinsic value in democratic participation and “that agitating for legislative and political change could be a purpose beneficial to the community”. The Court said that creating a public debate through lawful means about the efficiency of foreign aid on the relief of poverty, is itself a purpose beneficial to the community.So Greenpeace decided to push this issue. It did not accept that charities law in the 21st century meant banning controversial or ‘political’ organizations from charitable status. Our democracy is strong enough to allow controversy. Greenpeace took its case to the High Court which ruled, surprisingly perhaps, that promoting peace was not ‘political’ but that promoting disarmament was. So Greenpeace appealed to the Court of Appeal, which held that yes, nuclear disarmament is not (too) political either. So Greenpeace did not, after all, fall into the ‘political’ exception. Having won that narrow point, Greenpeace could have left the case there. But the Court of Appeal decided not to follow Australia and Aid/Watch, and maintained that political purposes or activities should exclude an organisation from being a charity. So Greenpeace pressed on to the Supreme Court: it believed that an important principle of democracy was at stake.And it was. The Supreme Court rose to the challenge. It is worth quoting Chief Justice Sian Elias in paragraph 71:“[71] Just as promotion of the abolition of slavery has been regarded as charitable, today advocacy for such ends as human rights or protection of the environment and promotion of amenities that make communities pleasant may have come to be regarded as charitable purposes in themselves, depending on the nature of the advocacy, even if not ancillary to more tangible charity. That result was looked to as one that might well come about in relation to protection of the environment by Somers J in Molloy. In the present case the Board has accepted that Greenpeace’s object to “promote the protection and preservation of nature and the environment” is charitable. Protection of the environment may require broad-based support and effort, including through the participatory processes set up by legislation, to enable the public interest to be assessed. In the same way, the promotion of human rights (a purpose of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, as its long title indicates) may depend on similar broad-based support so that advocacy, including through participation in political and legal processes, may well be charitable.”From that high point of principle, the rest fell into place: “We agree with the view expressed by Kiefel J in Aid/Watch that charitable and political purposes are not mutually exclusive. As a result, we depart from the approach taken in the Court of Appeal” and “we are unable to agree with the Court of Appeal suggestion that views generally acceptable may be charitable, while those which are highly controversial are not.”Does this mean that controversial or ‘political’ organisations will now automatically gain charitable status? Definitely not. As the Supreme Court held, “assessment of whether advocacy or promotion of a cause or law reform is a charitable purpose depends on consideration of the end that is advocated, the means promoted to achieve that end and the manner in which the cause is promoted in order to assess whether the purpose can be said to be of public benefit within the spirit and intendment of the 1601 Statute.” In short, the NGO must show that its work is for the public benefit. But being controversial or ‘political’ no longer means automatic exclusion.It is a good day for civil society and democracy. As Greenpeace New Zealand’s executive director Bunny McDiarmid put it, the decision “makes New Zealand’s democracy a little stronger.” And in an election year, that has to be a good thing.

Duncan Currie is an International and Envronmental lawyer who has worked all over the world for Greenpeace and many other organisations.

In Government, the Green Party is committed to help Christchurch become a better, more resilient and sustainable city.

The Green Party has today announced its plan for a fairer, smarter and more democratic Canterbury rebuild, with a focus on smart transport solutions, restoring local democracy, and keeping Christchurch’s assets.

The plan sits across all of the Green Party’s priorities this election for a cleaner, fairer and smarter New Zealand.

A $462 million investment in smart transport solutions for Christchurch over five years, including establishing Canterbury Transport – a single body responsible for transport across Greater Christchurch, as well as investing in safe cycling and public transport

A commitment to remove any pressure on the Christchurch City Council to sell strategic assets by putting a new stadium on hold and a more flexible approach to the cost-sharing agreement

A commitment to restoring local democracy by holding regional council elections at ECan in 2015, removing the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority’s emergency powers, and returning power to the Christchurch City Council

Greening the rebuild with $20 million allocated to progressing the Avon-Otakaro River Park and $15 million for climate change adaptation.

“The Green Party is committed to a greener, fairer, smarter and more democratic Canterbury rebuild,” Green Party Christchurch spokesperson Eugenie Sage said today.

“We will prioritise smart transport solutions, a greener rebuild, a return of local democracy, and projects that put the needs of Christchurch people first.

“The National Government has got its priorities for Christchurch wrong.

“For Christchurch, three more years of National will see asset sales, increasing transport woes and a lack of democracy.

“It’s time for a change of leadership and decision-making style. With our policies, we’re providing the people of Christchurch with a clear choice.

“It’s time to give someone else a go. Gerry Brownlee and National have had their chance.

“Leaving National in charge of the rebuild is putting Christchurch assets and the city’s long-term wellbeing at risk. We don’t have to sell Christchurch’s future.

“It shouldn’t be the rebuild versus assets. There’s a deep irony in the idea that to rebuild a city you have to lose assets that make a city great.

“Meanwhile, Christchurch residents are facing the daily effects of the earthquakes – congested roads, cold houses, and an ever-changing city as Christchurch rebuilds.

“The Green Party has already committed $60 million to warm up Christchurch homes with insulation and clean heating solutions. Christchurch will also gain from our other election priorities through cleaner rivers, thriving kids and smarter jobs,” said Ms Sage.

“Today we’re announcing a $462 million investment in smart transport solutions for Christchurch over the next five years,” said Green Party transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter.

“A big investment in walking and cycling, and buses and trains will have a massive impact on Christchurch’s congestion problems.

“We will make cycling and public transport safe and great again in Christchurch. It’s time to rebuild Christchurch’s proud history of being an easy city to get around.

“We will also create Canterbury Transport – a single body responsible for transport strategy, planning and delivery across Greater Christchurch – to ensure a coordinated approach to transport as the city rebuilds,” said Ms Genter.

“In Government, the Green Party is committed to help Christchurch become a better, more resilient and sustainable city”, said Ms Sage.

The collapse of log prices due to oversupply in China threatens to wash the gloss off what remains of National’s so-called rock-star economy, says Labour Leader David Cunliffe.

“Already this year the price of milk solids has plunged by more than 40 per cent. Now the price of raw logs has halved in the past six months, highlighting the risk of exporting so much unprocessed timber.

“Almost half the value has been knocked off our expected future milk and wood export receipts in the last few months and that spells economic gloom.

“The timber industry has already lost 500 jobs in the past few months and thousands more are at risk. Our regions will continue to suffer. The knock-on effects will be felt from our rural centres to our cities.

“New Zealanders who already face rising power bills, rising rents and mortgages, rising costs of basics, and static or declining real-term wages, were told by the Government good times were just around the corner. But now they face a terrible hangover without having been to the party.

“Under this National Government more than 600,000 hectares of forestry land has been approved for sale to overseas interests. And instead of processing timber here – keeping local sawmills open, Kiwis in jobs, and adding value to wood products – we are now exporting more than half our logs as raw product. We are then re-importing dressed timber to rebuild Christchurch.

“That is not rock-star economics.

“Labour’s forestry policy will encourage the journey from volume to value in wood products – through tax deferral, R&D tax credits, security of supply, monetary policy to keep interest rates and the New Zealand dollar lower for longer, and a government pro-wood policy.

“We will reinvest in the regions with a $200 million infrastructure development fund.

“Through industry, investment and innovation, we will encourage the development of a diversified, modern, high-value economy – so that when commodity prices fall and the earthquake insurance checks are spent, our children will still have a future.

“National’s foolhardy, short-term approach – to bet the farm and the forest, or worse, sell it – threatens all our futures. A Labour government I lead will not let that happen,” David Cunliffe says.

National’s “keep ’em poor” card for young people on a benefit is a sorry substitute for job training, Labour’s Social Development spokesperson Sue Moroney says.

The Government today announced it would extend its payment card scheme to all teen parents and many 18 and 19 year old beneficiaries.

“Labour’s popular KickStart policy gets young job seekers off the unemployment benefitand into apprenticeships by providing employers the equivalent of the dole totake them on for a year as an apprentice.

“That is a far more positive outcome for young New Zealanders than National’sapproach of controlling what young people spend their money on.

“The fact remains that since National took office far too many young peoplehave been left on the scrap heap. That is not a success – it is a tragic wasteof potential.

“It’s past time National woke up to the looming skills shortage facing thecountry. A smart Government with the right policies would be working to fillthe gaps now,” Sue Moroney said.

Working towards being a world leader in eliminating violence against women and children will be a priority for a Labour Government.

Releasing Labour’s Women’s Affairs policy today spokesperson Carol Beaumont said while Labour had a proud track record of achieving change for New Zealand women there was still more to do.

“We are committed to delivering for women because it is overwhelmingly women who are the victims of domestic and sexual violence. It is women who dip out in the income stakes and it is overwhelmingly women who feel they have to return to work earlier than they want to after becoming a parent.

“Labour will take decisive action to stop the unacceptable rates of violence against women and children. We want New Zealand to lead the world in doing that and will start by providing leadership from the Prime Minister down.

“It means adopting a collaborative, long-term Action Plan in consultation with other parties and the sector, ensuring greater resources for frontline support services, primary prevention and education, and reforming the justice system to better provide for survivors, including a review of the operation of protection orders.

“We will ensure that all women have full and equal access to opportunities to develop and progress in the workforce and in society.

“At the moment around 60 per cent of workers aged between 25 and 64 on the minimum wage are women. Labour will increase the minimum wage by $2 an hour to help address the gender pay gap.

“Our plan to extend paid parental leave to 26 weeks will allow around 26,000 New Zealand families each year will have extra time with their new born babies.

It is obvious from Tony Ryall’s hasty attack of Labour’s plans to extend free GP visits to older people that he hasn’t bothered to actually read the policy, Labour’s Health spokesperson Annette King says.

“Mr Ryall’s response to Labour’s comprehensive, fully costed proposal to provide free healthcare to more Kiwis is nothing if not predictable.

“It is somewhat ironic that he and his colleagues can argue that providing free doctors’ visits to under 13-year-olds is a brilliant idea, while doing the same for over 65s, a group who also have some of the highest health needs and are generally on fixed incomes, is dumb.

“Tony Ryall is the man who, for the last six years, has fudged the very real pressures on the health system by bumping patients off waiting lists, denying surgery to patients because they don’t meet stringent pain thresholds and ignoring the rising number of people turning up to emergency departments because they can’t afford to see a GP.

“Labour’s policy has been costed to allow for demographic changes and inflation. On the other hand National has failed to invest enough in health to keep pace with those cost pressures in four out of six Budgets.

“Labour’s focus on primary care – where prevention and early intervention take precedence – makes sense. A sustainable health system that improves health outcomes for all New Zealanders is best for patients and best for taxpayers,” Annette King said.

“The extent of National’s indulgence shows just how out of touch it is with ordinary people.

“It’s offensive to New Zealand families struggling to get by for their money to be used on yachting and wine tasting for wealthy foreign oil executives.”

Only two of the 11 companies who were part of the four day trip have since entered the New Zealand petroleum exploration market, and Simon Bridges has confirmed no jobs have been created as a result of it.

Simon Bridges confirmed in Parliament he’d never spent that that sort of money [$237,000] on clean-energy company executives.

“Simon Bridges needs to stop playing oil industry groupie and start leading New Zealand’s transition to a cleaner, smarter economy.

“With the fourth lowest oil royalty rate in the world, and 90 percent of all profits going off shore, deep sea oil drilling is a case of New Zealanders taking all the risk while foreign oil companies take any gains.”

If in government, the Green Party will ban deep sea oil drilling in New Zealand.

“Voters have a real choice this election. National and its pollution economy, or the Green Party’s plan for a cleaner, smarter economy, under which our beaches remain open for swimming, not closed for oil spills,” said Dr Norman.

“We will protect our beaches by keeping the deep sea oil genie in the bottle.

“There are cleaner, smarter, ways to achieve a prosperous New Zealand than risking our beautiful beaches.”

The full itinerary for the New Zealand Oil and Gas Summit 2011 is as follows:

A launch event at Te Papa Museum on the evening of 30 September. A winery tour at Palliser Vineyard (1 October), including a catered lunch by Ruth Pretty. A catered corporate box at two Rugby World Cup matches. Sailing at Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club (2 October) and lunch at Martin Bosley. An all-day conference (October 3) which included round table talks and presentations on New Zealand’s regulatory regime. A post-conference dinner at Logan Brown (3 October).

The total cost = approximately $237,000. The total cost of wine tasting (including venue hire, wine tasting, a catered lunch and transport) was approximately $7200. Accommodation at the Intercontinental Hotel in Wellington was provided for four nights at a total cost of approximately $37,000.

The attendees visited Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club and sailed on Wellington Harbour for 1.5 hours, followed by lunch at Martin Bosley’s restaurant in Wellington.

Under National over one million hectares of land has been approved for overseas sale – 16 times the size of Lake Taupō or the equivalent of five hundred rugby fields a day, Labour’s Finance spokesperson David Parker says.

“According to the Overseas Investment Office’s records, 1,002,591 hectares of land (10,000 square km) has been approved for sale to wholly and partially controlled overseas interests since John Key took office.

“Half of these land sale approvals (497,842 ha) occurred since John Key promised a ‘crack down’ on the sale of sensitive land to overseas interests.

“We know now that this ‘crack down’ was nothing but a crock. At the same time Bill English was sending a tricky side letter to the OIO defining ‘large’ farms as ten times the size of an average farm, a definition so big as to be meaningless.

“John Key claims the amount of land approved for overseas sale under his government is small, but 10,000 square kms is 16 times the size of Lake Taupō, 3.5 times the size of Samoa, the equivalent of two Auckland super-cities, six Stewart Islands, the Taranaki region, Wellington and Wairarapa combined, or the Tasman region.

“It’s 500 rugby fields a day since National came to power. That’s a lot of land.

“That’s why National refuses to measure the total number of homes sold offshore or the exact amount of rural land being sold to overseas corporates. They refuse to be upfront with New Zealanders as they know Kiwis will be shocked at the scale of sales. Labour will reveal the full amount of overseas ownership in New Zealand when in Government.

“These sales are locking the country into a vicious cycle. With profits and wealth from land going offshore we do not pay our way in the world, our exchange rate is over-inflated and our interest rates are structurally higher. That makes it harder for local investors to buy Kiwi land, which means more land gets sold overseas making us poorer and less able to pay our way in the world.

“The cycle gets worse and worse. With home ownership at the lowest rate in 60 years and dropping, we need to keep New Zealand homes for Kiwis too.

“National promised to fix this four years ago and here we go again. Labour will fix it once and for all. If you have the right to live in New Zealand, you can buy land in New Zealand. In a nutshell no farms to foreigners,” David Parker says.

“We knew that National would try to say that we can’t afford free GP visits and prescriptions for the New Zealanders who need it. But, as David Cunliffe said in his speech today:

‘It’s budgeted, it’s paid for, it’s there in black and white. So when our opponents try to claim that we can’t afford better healthcare for New Zealanders – and they’ll try – they won’t be being honest with the public.’

Mr Joyce has tried every trick in the book in his shoddy attack.

First off, he ignores the fact that National allocated $15 billion of new spending over the next four years in Budget 2014. The difference between Labour and National is we’ve said how much we’ll allocate and how much we will use to reduce debt – National hasn’t.

Mr Joyce has counted over two billion dollars in tax cuts as spending.

Mr Joyce failed to count the half a billion dollars in savings we’ll realise by cancelling bad National policies.

Mr Joyce failed to count the $4 billion in extra revenue.

Mr Joyce’s claims are riddled with what are either amateurish mistakes or intentional errors intended to mislead.

In another example, Mr Joyce asserts the cost of Universal KiwiSaver should be higher than we have shown it because it was projected to cost more back in 2011. He knows that as at July 2011 there were 1.8 million New Zealanders in KiwiSaver. Now there are 2.3 million in KiwiSaver, so there are fewer extra people to bring in. This is obvious.

Mr Joyce was the man who, in the 2011 election forecasts, banked billions from selling off SOEs like our power companies but failed to account for the lower share of profits when the government no longer owned the companies. He denied that during the election and only admitted it when the Treasury showed it to be true.

Labour has presented a fully costed plan that shows we can afford good policies that improve Kiwis’ lives while running surpluses and paying off National’s record debt.

Labour’s plan to make doctor visits and prescriptions free for 1.7 million New Zealanders will mean more people get the medical care they need, it will save families money, and it will reduce cost to the healthcare system by treating problems early.

Today I launched Labour’s election campaign at the Viaduct Events Centre, Auckland. Here is the speech I gave.

E rau rangatira ma

E te whanau o te roopu reipa

Piki mai, kake mai haere mai

Te tangi a te pipiwharauroa

Te Po

Ka Awatea!

Whiti ao – whiti ao – whiti whiti Ao

Hello Labour

Hello New Zealand

Today is about you. It is about the launch of your future, your vision, your belief in creating a better New Zealand.

This election is going to be about a choice – probably one of the clearest that we have had as a country in a generation.

And it’s not just about two leaders, or even a contest between two parties.

This election is fundamentally about two very different pathways totwo very different futures for New Zealand.

It’s a choice between prosperity for all, or only for a few.

It’s a choice between a new path to a higher value, more sustainable future, where every person matters. Or the current path of selling ourselves short and deepening the divides.

I believe – every one of us in the Labour Party believes – that it is people that matter most.

That, at the end of the day, we are all worth exactly the same.

And I believe that our people are a community, and are not commodities.

I believe that when the least fortunate of us does better, we all do better.

I believe that in this country nobody should be left out or left behind.

But I also believe that New Zealand has lost its way.

That after another 3 years, heading in the direction we’re heading, we just won’t know this country.

Our rivers will be dirty. What’s left of our assets will be sold. And so will vast tracts of our land. We will be tenants in our own country.

Is that the choice we want to make?

I don’t think so.

Labour refuses to stand by and letthis generation of young New Zealanders become the first to do worse than their parents.

It wasn’t that long ago that we were considered to be the small, smart jewel of the South Pacific.

A creative, plucky country punching well above our weight. Where everyone could dare to dream the Kiwi dream, where if you worked hard and played by the rules – everyone, not just some, could get ahead.

We need to reclaim that vision, and make it our own again.

We can and we will.

We will do it for the mother of two teenage boys who works 60 hours a week cleaning and cannot sleep from worry that she doesn’t have enough time to keep them on the rails.

We’ll do it for the little kid in West Auckland admitted to Starship because of respiratory disease caused by the black mould growing in the bedroom in his cold, damp home.

We’ll do it for the professional couple in Christchurch who’ve been waiting for three years for the insurance cheque that means they can finally move on with their lives.

And for the grandmother who sits in her cold flat wrapped in blankets because she cannot pay both the power bill and the doctor.

We’ll do it for the small manufacturer who is laying off workers – his own mates – for the third time as his business slowly, but surely, goes under, due to the high Kiwi dollar.

A Labour government will make New Zealand a fairer place, and a better place.

By strengthening the right of every New Zealander to have a warm, dry, comfortable home.

By strengthening, not neglecting, support for our schools, hospitals and universities.

By building, not deferring, a high-value, high knowledge, sustainable economy that will create good jobs.

It’s called a better New Zealand.

Decent jobs are at the core of any decent society. It’s what we in Labour have always stood for.

These policies, like all our policies, have been carefully costed as part of our fiscal plan.

It’s budgeted, it’s paid for, it’s there in black and white.

So when our opponents try to claim that we can’t afford better healthcare for New Zealanders – and they’ll try – they won’t be being honest with the public.

And they know it.

Labour’s vision for New Zealand is to build the fairest, most decent society in the world.

The choice to come

What this election is fundamentally about is a choice. And it’s all of our choice.

New Zealanders, we can choose decent jobs for all.

We can choose great education for all.

We can choose kids growing up healthy, warm, and well fed.

We can choose an economy where people can pay their bills, and meet their mortgages and get ahead.

And of course we can choose decent healthcare for those who need it.

Together we can choose to build a society where there is fairness for all New Zealanders, not just the top few percent. Where everyone has the opportunity and aspiration to reach all our potential.

But, sadly, the path our country has been on won’t get us there.

It cannot. It will not.

The current path doesn’t live up to the truest Kiwi values of fairness, decency and respect. Those values that made our country great.

We need to apply those values to the new world of the 21st century so we can build a future where we all succeed together.

I know it’s easy to be cynical about elections. About the sideshows, about the relentless negativity.

And every election we hear voices telling us that there is no alternative and nothing will ever change.

That the problems are all someone else’s fault, or they’re all too hard to solve.

That we should just be happy with what we’ve got because fairness and decency is too much to ask for, and we shouldn’t rock the boat.

We’ve seen where politics as usual gets us.

We’ve seen more children in poverty, more people locked out of home ownership, more families finding their incomes cannot keep up with the rising cost of living.

We know that we can do better. We know we can deliver change for a better New Zealand.

In this election, we can change all of that together.

This election is going to be very close. The choice is here, the choice is now, the choice is real, and it’s ours to make, starting today.

If we want to change the path our country is on, we have to change the government first.

In this election we can chose to lift kids out of poverty, to put our people back to work, to create new businesses, to harness new technology. We can choose to build new homes, support our families and, together, build the fairest, most decent society in the world.

We can choose to do this. We can do this together.

If you want to build a better future for your family and your country.

If you want an end to politics as usual and to build a New Zealand that works for everyone.

If you won’t settle for the past and you want to reach for the future.

Nearly 40 per cent of Kiwis – or 1.7 million people – will be eligible for free doctors’ visits and free prescriptions under a Labour Government, Labour Leader David Cunliffe says.

“Last year more than half a million New Zealanders didn’t go to their doctor when they needed to because of the cost. A quarter of a million didn’t pick up a prescription for the same reason.

“When people get sick their ability to pay shouldn’t be a barrier to getting good healthcare, which is why Labour is committed to progressively reducing health costs across the board as economic conditions allow.

“Our initial focus is on people with the highest health needs and health costs. Today I am announcing that Labour will make GP visits and prescriptions free for nearly 700,000 Kiwis aged 65 and over, children aged up to 13 and pregnant women, who are currently entitled to free primary care in relation to their pregnancy, but not for other medical needs. Mums to be will also receive free dental care.

“We will also extend and improve the Care Plus programme which supports people with chronic or serious long term health conditions. That means an extra 250,000 New Zealanders will receive an extra four free doctors’ visits each year, along with a comprehensive wellness plan.

“Labour wants to keep Kiwis well. We will do that by providing accessible, affordable and effective advice and care before people get seriously ill, placing an emphasis on public and primary healthcare.

“It is about ensuring all New Zealanders live in a healthy, warm home, that no child lives in poverty and that everyone has the same opportunities in life.

“Our investment in healthcare has been fully costed and is part of Labour’s plan to run a surplus every year and pay off National’s debt.

“That investment will see 1.7 million New Zealanders, or nearly 40 per cent of Kiwis, getting free GP visits and prescriptions. 60,000 expectant mothers a year will also be able to get free dental care.

“Addressing health needs earlier saves money in the long term. Keeping people well through effective public and primary healthcare is the right thing to do for our families and for New Zealand,” David Cunliffe said.

Headline: Greens pledge free off-peak public transport for tertiary students

Tuesday, 05 Aug 2014 | Press Release

Making transport affordable for those in education and training is a smart solution to the financial pressures facing students, as well as encouraging better transport choices amongst a large sector of society.

The Green Party today launched its plan to deliver free off-peak public transport for tertiary students.

The plan is the second component of the Green Party’s economic priority this election: Building a smarter greener economy that really works for all New Zealanders.

The key policy points in the Green Party’s plan for free off-peak transport for tertiary students are:

All tertiary students and apprentices will get free off-peak travel on buses, trains, and ferries with a Student Green Card. All students attending universities, wānanga, polytechnics and Private Training Establishments, as well as those training through New Zealand Apprenticeships, will be eligible for the Green Card.

This will benefit up to 325,000 tertiary students, as well as approximately 28,000 people training under the New Zealand Apprenticeship scheme.

Off-peak travel will be free between the hours of 9am and 3pm, and from 6.30pm until the end of service on weekdays. It also covers all weekends and public holidays.

The Student Green Card will cost between $20 million-30 million per year. The costings are based on an increase in trips of 30 percent in response to the free travel on the Green Card, and would cost the Crown between $1.70-$2.20 per passenger trip. This will be funded by re-prioritised spending from the National Land Transport Fund.

“The Green Card will reduce the cost of transport for students. It is an investment in students and education, and will help to reduce their costs of living,” said Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman.

“The Green Card is a smart investment. For less than the cost of one kilometre of one of National’s motorway projects, we can provide all tertiary students and apprentices with free off-peak public transport.

“Making transport affordable for those in education and training is a smart solution to the financial pressures facing students, as well as encouraging better transport choices amongst a large sector of society.

“Research from 2011 found 67 percent of students were spending money on public transport, with an average spend of $35.40 per week. In Auckland, tertiary students were spending an average of $40.50 per week.

“Students are facing rising living cost pressures; transport, food, power, rent, but often have very restricted income. The Student Green Card is a way of helping to reduce costs to help students make ends meet.

“A Student Green Card will encourage smarter transport use and ease congestion for all travellers. It will help to shift cars off our roads, while making lower income students more mobile.

“This is an idea that works. The Palmerston North free bus scheme, which has been in place since 2004, has resulted in a 38 percent rise in student patronage of buses, and car journeys have dropped by more than half since it started.

“By increasing student patronage on our public transport network, we can cost-effectively provide improved services for everyone. As more people take the bus or train throughout the day, we can increase the number of services, which in turn will make public transport a convenient option for even more people.

“The Student Green Card will also help the environment. A well utilised public transport system is a vastly more efficient way to get around, and one that improves air quality and reduces carbon emissions,” Dr Norman said.

Posted on August 5, 2014 by admin in Hone Harawira, Press Releases“Yesterday I was shocked, dismayed and hurt, to hear that Kelvin Davis was secretly canvassing for funds from National to campaign against me” said MANA Leader and MP for Tai Tokerau, Hone Harawira.
“Today I am sad to hear that he refuses to acknowledge what he has done and refuses to apologise for his tactics”, said Harawira.
“We may be on different parties, but our people want this to be a campaign of ideas and values, our people do not want this to be the dirty and underhand campaign that Kelvin has made it into.”
“Since this story broke last night I have had heaps of calls from our people up north who are gutted by what Kelvin has done, and a lot of them are Labour voters.”
“Our people are really hurt by what Kelvin has done, and they are angry with him for not being man enough to apologise for it.”
“So I am asking the president of the Labour Party to issue an apology to my people in the Tai Tokerau for the dirty tricks campaign that Kelvin has been waging, and a formal declaration that it will not happen again.”

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Accident compensation for loss of potential earnings will rise under a Labour Government, while people not earning at the time of their accident will also be eligible for compensation, Labour’s ACC spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway says.

Releasing Labour’s ACC policy today he said Labour believes everyone should get a fair deal from ACC.

“That means those who are entitled to cover will get it. At the moment some groups are disproportionally disadvantaged.

“Currently claimants injured before they have the opportunity to begin earning are eligible for support equal to 80 per cent of the higher of the minimum weekly wage or 125 per cent of the invalid’s benefit.

“We will increase compensation for loss of potential earnings to 80 per cent of the median wage. We don’t think it’s right to assume that a person who is injured at an early age would have earned only the minimum wage had the injury not occurred.

“An unfair anomaly that means people who were not earning at the time they had an accident but are working when they become incapacitated do not receive weekly compensation, will also be scrapped under a Labour government.

“We will also investigate the introduction of a flat levy on all employers to fund occupational disease claims.

“While National has justified massive levy increases with its claims that ACC was in crisis, ACC recorded a surplus in 2012/13 of $4.9 billion, far in excess of what it needs. Despite advice from MBIE and ACC to cut levies, the Government has kept them unnecessarily high to achieve surplus.

“Labour will review levies to ensure they are not higher than needed to meet real costs of entitlements, and cut them if affordable.

“ACC has a proven track record. A Labour Government will ensure it is maintained as a publicly-owned social insurance scheme for all New Zealanders, with an increased focus on rehabilitation and long-term injury prevention,” Iain Lees-Galloway said.

“We welcome the first election since the Bainimarama coup, but the Green Party has concerns over how free and fair it will be,” Green Party global affairs spokesperson, Kennedy Graham, said today.

The New Zealand Government needs to do more to push for human rights and media freedom in Fiji as it stages its first election since the 2006 coup, the Green Party said today.

Amnesty International has released a report which documents torture, workers’ rights violations and concerns about the lack of government accountability. Amnesty International has criticised Fiji’s human rights record and called on its government to play fair and respect human rights in run up to the September Fijian elections.

“We welcome the first election since the Bainimarama coup, but the Green Party has concerns over how free and fair it will be,” Green Party global affairs spokesperson, Kennedy Graham, said today.

“Under the Bainimarama regime there continues to be breaches of fundamental human rights, with repression of opponents of the regime, trade unions, and the media.

“Fiji workers have lost the right to strike under current draconian legislation, and trade union officials are being intimidated and harassed.

“If Fiji wants to move from dictatorship to democracy these laws must be repealed.

“It must also clean up its prison system where there are numerous reports of beatings and ill-treatment of inmates.

“The forthcoming election should be a positive step, but it is New Zealand’s duty to monitor human rights in Fiji, as much as anywhere else,” said Dr Graham.

The Green Party calls on the New Zealand Government to state whether it believes the preparation for the Fiji election has been sufficiently transparent and fair to date, to ensure a free and fair election.

The Minister of Pacific Island Affairs can boast all he wants about changes to employment statistics for Pacific people but the reality for many Pacific people is nowhere close to National’s promised brighter future, Labour’s Pacific Affairs spokesperson Su’a William Sio says.

“While everyone welcomes the slight improvements in unemployment figures, the fact is that at 11.4% Pacific unemployment is still higher than for Pakeha, Women, Maori and Asian groups.

“Unemployment is even worse for Pacific youth aged 15-24 years at 23.8%.

“The work by the Auckland Action Against Poverty in the last 3 days in Mangere has highlighted just how out of touch National is with the plight of many local unemployed and working Kiwis. Not only are families struggling to put food on the table doing part-time casual work, but they are also been penalised by WINZ imposed sanctions.

“This is terrible treatment for people who are desperate through no fault of their own other than they are not getting their fair share of the economic improvements this government is talking up.

“The HLFS shows almost 100,000 kiwis are underemployed, people in work that require more hours, and more than 236,000 are jobless.

“The evidence is clear from our communities that when National says they are working for all New Zealanders, the people of Mangere know that they are really only working for their rich mates.

“We know that only 177 individuals and families on the NZ Rich list collectively increased their wealth by $3.3 billion to a combined total of $ 51.2 billion dollars. That’s more than 20% of the NZ gross domestic product.

”The reality for many Kiwis is despite their hard work life is just plain tough. That’s why Labour is focussed on providing better working opportunities and higher wages. We will support families with young children and make sure all our children get the best start in life.”

“Transport is the life-blood of the regions. They have been starved under National.”

The Green Party will increase transport spending in the regions by 50 percent over the next decade under its new transport plan, the Green Party said today.

“Transport is the life-blood of the regions. They have been starved under National,” Green Party transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter said today.

“Over the next 10 years, we plan increase regional transport funding by $423 million and we will invest $3 billion on state highways that will hugely improve safety.

“The bulk of the National’s transport budget has gone on motorways as it pursues its obsession with Roads of National Significance (RoNS) while regional transport needs have been ignored. The Green Party plan will change that.

“This plan is about building a smarter greener economy that really works for all New Zealanders.

“Under the Green Party plan, regions will be able to bid for projects that best serve their transport needs, whether road, rail or a port project.

“That contrasts with National, which has indulged in naked pork-barrel politics. It announced 14 regional projects in June, paid for by the sale of state assets, which were selected on the basis of National’s political needs rather than any objective assessment of requirements.

“We will not direct the funding for the regions, as National has done. Regions will be able to bid to fund projects and they will go through Treasury for a rational assessment of the transport priorities and proper cost-benefit analysis – something completely lacking with National’s RoNS programme.

“We also plan to reverse the decades-long under-investment in rail, which remains the transport backbone of the country and is of particular importance for regions like Gisborne and the Hawke’s Bay, where National has mothballed the rail line,” said Ms Genter.

“National has been doing the bare minimum to keep rail alive and in some regions has killed it. It has been dragging its feet on investment to grow capacity.

“Despite this, rail freight has been growing for the past five years, but the infrastructure needs investment to make rail a more reliable and fast option.

“We will invest over $4 billion in the next 10 years on the rail network that will take pressure off roads and improve their safety while helping exporters get their goods to market reliably and efficiently.”

The regional transport plan is part of the Green Party’s overall transport plan that will invest $36.6 billion in the next decade including over $10 billion in new public transport projects and rail.

Headline: #PeaceLikeMine – international union campaign for peace in Gaza

Workers in New Zealand are today the first to participate in an international day of action being undertaken by unions across the globe calling for the United Nations to do more to deliver peace between Israel and Palestine.

“The only solution is a permanent cease-fire with the intervention of the international community to force the parties to the table to conclude a negotiated settlement that ends the blockade of Gaza and the occupation of Palestine. The people of Israel and the people of Palestine will only be assured of a peaceful and secure future with a two-state solution, where all people can live in peace and security and build a future for themselves and their children.” CTU President Helen Kelly said.

“Today people from all around the world will take a photo of something which represents what peace means to them – perhaps it’s breakfast with the family, a sleeping child, coffee and a newspaper, a walk along the beach, whatever peace means to them – then thanks to technology – these images can be uploaded to the website www.bypost.com/peacelikemine which will then generate a personalised postcard to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon.” Kelly said.

“Lots of people are asking what they can do about the terrible situation in Gaza – here is something people can do.” Kelly said.

Headline: Peace Like Mine – take action to support peace in Palestine and Israel.

MESSAGE FROM HELEN KELLY, PRESIDENT NZ COUNCIL OF TRADE UNIONS

Dear Union Member

Workers and their families in Gaza need our support right now to stop the war that is killing them and their kids and destroying their homes and jobs.

The Palestinian people are just like all of us. They want to live in peace on their homeland. The United Nations and Palestine has agreed to a two state solution for Israel and Palestine which designates specific land to the Palestinian State, but ever since this agreement, this land has been constantly taken by Israel and occupied by Israeli settlers. The UN has called for Israel to withdraw from this land in two separate resolutions of the Security Council but the confiscation of land has continued.

Now the people of Gaza (part of Palestine) have been ‘ringed in’ by Israel including by a massive wall built by Israel called “the separation wall” and for more than four years Israel has controlled who goes in and out and banned many essentials from entering the area (like concrete for example, leaving the homes in complete disrepair). Gaza has been described as the biggest outdoor prison in the world with 1.8 million people living on 360km of land. And now it is being bombed including its hospitals, its only power station, and even UN safe areas. Fifty percent of the population is under 17 years old and these kids are in a living hell. We have a relationship with the workers and unions of Palestine and we want to help them.

The International Union Movement (ITUC) is today launching the “Peace Like Mine” campaign. This campaign asked you to create a postcard using this link www.bypost.com/peacelikemine

Take a photo of you, your family and friends doing something normal as part of your daily life and turn it into a postcard using the website, to send to the UN calling for the people of Gaza to enjoy the same sort of peace. Maybe it is you having a family outing, walking the dog, having a meal with friends, the kids riding their bikes, going to school. All these normal day things are not possible for these thousands of kids and they deserve the right to enjoy them too. We are sending the postcards to Ban Ki Moon at the United Nations. The ITUC has paid for the first 5000 of them so send yours soon. Once you have done your card, nominate two of your friends or workmates to also create a “Peace Like Mine” postcard and share your picture on Facebook.

This is a simple activity but it will send a strong message that working people around the world want the bombing to stop and for the families and children of Gaza to enjoy a peaceful future. It takes many stones to build an arch and your solidarity will count.

Child Poverty Action Group says excluding around 15,000 newborn babies in beneficiary families from tax-funded support available to all others is discrimination of the worst kind.

Spokesperson Associate Professor Susan St John said, “Dividing babies into the deserving and undeserving poor is mean-spirited and goes against all evidence that supporting children in their earliest years is vital for their long term development.”

Child Poverty Action Group says excluding around 15,000 newborn babies in beneficiary families from tax-funded support available to all others is discrimination of the worst kind.

Spokesperson Associate Professor Susan St John said, “Dividing babies into the deserving and undeserving poor is mean-spirited and goes against all evidence that supporting children in their earliest years is vital for their long term development.”

Papers released to the Green Party, andreported on Stuff today, show the Ministry of Social Development and Treasury both backed assistance to beneficiary parents of new-borns to complement the changes to Paid Parental Leave and Parental Tax Credit. The MSD said, ”This new assistance would reduce the financial pressures and stress on low-income parents, contribute towards improving wellbeing during a critical period of child development and therefore contribute to improved short and longer-term child outcomes.”

Susan St John said, “The Minister’s argument that a meagre extra payment would mean a beneficiary parent was getting more support than a working parent on Paid Parental Leave is completely wrong. She is comparing apples and oranges. The sole parent benefit is for the adult and is $299, she gets an extra $92 for the child. The Minister has added on the maximum accommodation assistance to get $552. A mother on Paid Parental Leave is also entitled to the In Work Tax Credit and the Family Tax Credit to a maximum of $152 if the total household income is under $36350.”

CPAG says the government’s attitude to the most vulnerable children is unfathomable. Susan St John said, “The government’s ‘one size fits all’ solution that paid employment is the only way to address family poverty makes no provision for the different circumstances families face and takes no account of the valuable work of mothers caring for their babies.”

Labour has sent a clear message to New Zealanders with the release of its Water policy; we will clean up New Zealand’s rivers and lakes over a generation, says Labour’s Water spokesperson Meka Whaitiri.

“National’s Amy Adams is just plain wrong when she says the policy is ‘a pointed attack’ on rural New Zealand. We are making a truly aspirational target for cleaner water in both the countryside and our cities over 25 years .

“We are committed to encouraging the fair and efficient use of our precious public freshwater resource through a fair priced resource rental on large takes for irrigation. That is just being fair and cannot be seen as an attack on our farmers.

“We will adopt a National Water Policy based on the Sheppard report that will set standards and a timeline by which those standards will be achieved.

New Zealand cannot have a healthy economy without a healthy environment and healthy waterways play a critical part in New Zealand’s future. The bottom line is – we need to do more and to do it quickly if we are to turn around the decline of our water.

“Labour believes that the sustainable use of our water is critical to an ongoing agricultural sector and the protection of our rivers and lakes is vital. It is an important part of keeping the clean brand we use to maintain our share in our international markets.”

Headline: Christchurch Convention Centre: another taxpayer subsidy for business

Thursday, 07 Aug 2014 | Press Release

“There are big unanswered questions about what the return to the Crown be with this $284 million spend”

The awarding of the Christchurch convention centre contract raises more questions than it answers, said the Green Party today.

The National Government today announced that Plenary Conventions New Zealand, a consortium of Plenary Group, Ngai Tahu Property and Carter Group, has been selected as the preferred development consortium to build the Convention Centre. French company Accor has been selected as the preferred operator.

“There are big unanswered questions about what the return to the Crown be with this $284 million spend,” said Green Party Christchurch spokesperson Eugenie Sage.

“Plenary Group are a company that specialises in public private partnership (PPP) and the Government has not given us any information about who will own the convention centre after the build.

“This appears to be a massive subsidy for private businesses.

“If taxpayers are putting in $284 million of public money, then it should be owned by the public like the convention centre before the earthquake.

“PPPs almost always cost more and end up being a direct transfer of taxpayer money to private company profits.

“The Minister has declined Green Party requests for the business case for the project.

“There has been a huge lack of transparency and accountability around this massive spend of public money.

“The National Government has pushed ahead with this convention centre despite the massive hole in the Christchurch Council’s budget.

“The lack of information means that the people of Christchurch don’t know whether this is a white elephant for the city or not.

“The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority’s powers override the Resource Management Act, which means that the public will be shut out of any input.

“The Green Party questions whether a convention centre of this size and scale is the most appropriate for Christchurch; especially given the lack of transparency and public input,” said Ms Sage.

]]>Teachers line up for last chance at democracyhttps://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/08/07/teachers-line-up-for-last-chance-at-democracy/
Thu, 07 Aug 2014 03:00:41 +0000http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/08/07/teachers-line-up-for-last-chance-at-democracy/MIL OSI – Source: Labour Party –

Headline: Teachers line up for last chance at democracy

Plans by National to scrap the democratically-elected Teachers Council have prompted 37 nominations for just four places, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins says.

“This is the last chance teachers have to elect their own council before the Government replaces it with the newly formed Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand (EDUCANZ).

“Education Minister Hekia Parata has cited low voter turnout as a justification for doing away with elections altogether. That’s clearly caught people’s attention and the high interest in this year’s council election shows just how much teachers value their voice.

“For a professional body to be effective it must have the confidence and support of those that it seeks to govern. EDUCANZ won’t have that support because teachers feel so disempowered as a result of its creation.

“Submissions to the select committee considering this change overwhelmingly opposed the removal of democracy from the teaching profession. In fact, the Government’s wider education reforms were completely opposed by 91 per cent, or 855 of 937 submitters.

“Labour believes teachers should have their own voice.

“A Labour Government will guarantee their right to elect their own representatives to their professional body,” Chris Hipkins says.

A Labour government will boost career opportunities in the cultural sector by establishing 200 new creative apprenticeships, Labour’s Arts, Culture and Heritage spokesperson Jacinda Ardern says.

Releasing Labour’s Arts, Culture and Heritage policy this afternoon she said the apprenticeships offer the kind of flexible, open-minded and innovative approach to training New Zealand’s creative industries are known for.

“They will provide a clear pathway for people wanting creative careers to gain a nationally-recognised Diploma or Certificate qualification, and will be especially useful for community arts organisations, theatres, and galleries, who may not always have the certainty, confidence and support required to take on people in an apprentice role.

“New Zealanders are strong supporters of the arts and are proud of this country’s artistic achievements. Labour wants to continue to develop the arts sector to ensure its talents continue to be valued here and internationally.

“That means we will continue to invest in Creative New Zealand, and directly support other institutions of national significance. Creative New Zealand will be structured so that it is practitioner led, includes independent top level Maori and Pacific representation and is focused on supporting artists rather than bureaucrats. It will be tasked with reviewing processes and funding criteria.

“The contribution our screen industry makes to both the economy and our cultural identity is well-known. Labour’s continued support for the New Zealand film industry includes reviewing the new incentives regime to ensure benefits to the domestic industry are maximised.”

A Labour Government will also:

Reinstate the Artists in Schools Programme and establish a network of Children’s Art Houses

Reinstate the Pathways to Arts and Cultural Employment (PACE) scheme, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the cultural sector through investment in tertiary education and professional development

Provide opportunities for game and animation innovation

Support NZ Book Month as an annual event and review the public lending right for authors

Re-establish Archives NZ and the National Library as independent entities

Investigate the possibility of an archive for New Zealand music

Investigate a National Policy Statement on Heritage

“A strong arts and cultural sector is not a nice to have. It is a fundamental part of a modern, creative, high-wage economy,” Jacinda Ardern said.

A Labour Government remains committed to ensuring the owners of the Rena fully remove the wreck off the Astrolabe Reef, says Labour’s Environment spokesperson Moana Mackey.

“The images on 3 News last night of the rubbish that surrounds the wreck show that the clean-up has a long way to go.

“It is staggering that so much wreckage remains in the debris field that even the owners have agreed must be removed.

“The Government has to come clean on what it now intends to do with the rest of the Rena. John Key’s claim that any salvage will be too expensive has to be seen for what it is, meanness when it comes to the environment.

“Already the Waitangi Tribunal in an interim decision has found that the Crown has breached the principles of the Treaty in the case of the Rena. Will the Prime Minister wait until the tribunal has had its final word.

“The next crucial step for the Bay of Plenty will be tomorrow’s deadline for public submissions on the resource consent by the owners to leave most of the ship’s hull on the sea floor. I urge the people of the Bay to make their feelings known before they run out of time.

“The owners admit that nearly 80 per cent of the Rena is still on the reef and claim that it is beyond salvage. Labour wants the maximum clean-up with the maximum liability attached to the owners.”

Headline: Green Party announces massive investment in public transport

Thursday, 07 Aug 2014 | Press Release

“The Green Party has a different vision for of our cities and towns – a smarter, greener transport plan that will benefit everyone.”

The Green Party will invest over $10 billion in new public transport projects and rail over the next decade, transforming how New Zealanders get around our largest cities.

The Green Party’s ten year transport plan, announced today, will cost less than the Government’s corresponding ten year transport plan, create more jobs and invest in the transport projects that New Zealanders have said they want.

The plan is the next component of the Green Party’s economic priority this election: Building a smarter greener economy that really works for all New Zealanders. Smarter transport will get us there.

The key policy points in the Green Party’s transport plan are:

A $10.4 billion investment in new public transport projects and rail over 10 years delivering buses and trains every few minutes at peak hour, decongesting our cities’ roads, and reversing the neglect of our rail network.

A $2.2 billion dollar government investment in seven key public transport projects in Auckland, including $1.3 billion in funding for the Auckland City Rail Link to start immediately.

A 300% increase in walking and cycling infrastructure including separated walking and cycling infrastructure in New Zealand’s small towns and big cities.

A $423 million increase in funding to regions to contest for projects that will best serve their transport needs.

A Student Green Card to provide free off-peak travel to all tertiary students and apprentices. We will investigate options to lower fares for everyone, and implement smart, integrated options for monthly and annual passes.

“National’s transport budget is focussed on expensive low value motorways, at the neglect of the smarter greener transport projects New Zealanders want,” said Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman.

“Recent surveys have shown New Zealanders want to see more being spent on public transport – that is what the Green Party will deliver.

“National is wasting taxpayer’s money on poor value motorways that will actually increase traffic congestion, increase pollution, and make commuters vulnerable to rising oil prices. We need fresh thinking about ways to help New Zealanders get around.

“The Green Party has a different vision for our cities and towns – a smarter, greener transport plan that will benefit everyone.

“We will switch from wasteful motorway spending and invest instead in trains and buses, and we will build infrastructure so people can safely walk and cycle to work or school. We will also invest in making roads safer by upgrading our State Highways. Over 10 years we plan to spend $3 billion on projects to improve state highways, making safety the number one priority.

“The result will be quicker, smarter, cheaper and greener transport that gives people real choice about how to get around.

“The Green Party’s plan will deliver more for less – more projects, more jobs, at less cost less than the National’s current spend.

“Auckland aspires to be a world class city. To bring Auckland into the 21st century we need a public transport system to fit, yet National won’t invest in essential projects like the City Rail link.

“We will build a comprehensive transport network with integrated trains, buses and ferries that will make getting around Auckland faster and easier for everyone,” said Dr Norman.

In Auckland, the Green Party will implement the Congestion Free Network plan. By 2020, we will:

Complete the City Rail Link, cutting train travel times by up to 28 minutes per trip

Build a rail extension to Mt Roskill (with further rail extensions to the Airport by 2025 and the North Shore planned by 2030)

Electrify the rail network from Papakura to Pukekohe

Build a new bus lane on State Highway 16

Extend the Northern Busway to Albany and Newmarket

Establish a new high quality bus service across the upper harbour

Extend the AMETI Busway into Ellerslie and Manukau

The plan includes a $1.3 billion capital investment into the City Rail Link (60 percent of the cost), and $825 million into dedicated busways and city bus centre improvements.

“We also have ambitious plans for Wellington and Christchurch which we will announce in the coming weeks,” Dr Norman said.

The Student Green Card announced earlier this week will make off-peak public transport free for tertiary students and apprentices.

“For the cost of one kilometre of National’s Roads of National Significance, we can provide 325,000 tertiary students with free off-peak transport for a year,” said Dr Norman.

“The Green Party will also invest more than $1 billion dollars over ten years in new safe, separated walking and cycling infrastructure in New Zealand small towns and big cities.

“The regions will be the biggest beneficiaries from our funding switch from motorways.

“Transport is the life-blood of the regions but they have been starved of funding under National. We will bump up Regional Transport funding so regions can contest for projects that will best serve their transport needs, whether road, rail or port projects.

“We will reverse the neglect of our rail network, the transport backbone of New Zealand.

“The Green Party’s transport plan will give people what they want – vibrant, greener cities, where public transport is fast, clean and affordable, and where kids can walk and cycle to school safely.

“Our transport policy is about giving people choices about how they get around. National’s outdated plan is almost totally directed at a few motorways. On September 20, voters can vote for the type of transport system they want.”

]]>CAR: Resignation of government must not open door to impunityhttps://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/08/07/car-resignation-of-government-must-not-open-door-to-impunity/
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 22:42:20 +0000http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/08/07/car-resignation-of-government-must-not-open-door-to-impunity/MIL OSI – Source: Amnesty International NZ –

Headline: CAR: Resignation of government must not open door to impunity

Following the resignation of the Prime Minister and his cabinet, Amnesty International has called on the relevant Central African Republic (CAR) authorities, including Transitional President Catherine Samba-Panza, to ensure that those suspected of involvement in crimes under international law are not given a seat in government.

These individuals must instead be brought to justice in fair trials with no recourse to the death penalty.

“CAR transitional authorities must ensure that the changes in the make-up of the government do not result in a situation where new cabinet members use their position to commit further violations or prevent effective investigations against themselves or their allies,” said Christian Mukosa, Amnesty International’s CAR Researcher.

Amnesty International has received credible information that persons suspected of serious human rights abuses are seeking positions within the new government.

The call comes on the day that Central African Republic’s Prime Minister André Nzapayéké and his entire cabinet handed in their resignations. This decision follows the ceasefire agreement signed on 23 July 2014 in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, by representatives of armed groups, including the anti-balaka and the Séléka, political parties, churches and civil society organizations.

In its report, Central African Republic: Time for Accountability, published on 10 July 2014, Amnesty International named members and allies of the anti-balaka and Séléka armed groups suspected of involvement in serious human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law. They include ex-Presidents François Bozizé and Michel Djotodia, Anti-balaka coordinators, including Levy Yakété and Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona and Séléka commanders, including Noureddine Adam. The report calls for effective investigations and prosecution in all cases where there is sufficient admissible evidence of involvement in crimes under international law.

On 11 July 2014, a Séléka congress designated former CAR President Michel Djotodia and former commander and Minister Nourredine Adam as the armed group’s president and vice-president respectively. These two individuals are under UN and US sanctions for their alleged involvement in human rights violations and abuses committed in CAR.

“A situation where individuals suspected of involvement in war crimes, crimes against humanity and other serious human rights abuses are allowed to secure positions in the government would spell disaster for a country that is struggling to end the impunity that has fuelled months of horrific violence,” said Christian Mukosa.

“Rather than facilitating impunity, the transitional government must instead ensure that members of the anti-balaka militia, the Séléka and their respective allies and any other individuals and groups suspected of involvement in human rights abuses and breach of international humanitarian law are brought to justice so that the long journey to justice for the victims can begin in the Central African Republic.”

Headline: Libya: Indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas in Tripoli and Benghazi amounts to war crimes

Amnesty International is calling for all sides to immediately stop the indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas in Tripoli and Benghazi where clashes in recent weeks have evolved into two separate armed conflicts. Such indiscriminate attacks that result in death or injury to civilians amount to war crimes.

Intense fighting between rival armed groups and militias in both cities has killed 214 people and injured 981, according to the Ministry of Health, as well as causing damage to civilian property. Medical workers reported that the dead and injured included civilians, in particular women and children.

“The warring parties in Tripoli and Benghazi have displayed a wanton disregard for the safety of ordinary civilians who have found themselves mercilessly pinned down by indiscriminate shelling with imprecise weapons that should never be used in populated areas,” said Philip Luther, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Amnesty International.

“All sides in both these conflicts have an absolute obligation under international law not to target attacks against civilians.”

Parties to the conflict also have an obligation to refrain from attacks that disproportionately harm civilians or fail to distinguish between civilians and combatants.

In one of the most tragic incidents, five members of the same family were killed when a GRAD rocket struck their home in Sawani, on the outskirts of Tripoli on 31 July. Among the dead was Na’ima Bahloul al-Dawa, who was eight months pregnant and received shrapnel wounds to the stomach causing her to miscarry. A girl around 10 years old was also killed after sustaining head injuries. Three other members of the same family including a 14-year-old boy and a woman in her sixties were injured in the same incident.

In a number of other cases civilians have been killed at home when their buildings were shelled. These include a 60-year-old man from Qasr Ben Ghashir in Tripoli on 20 July. A day earlier Anas Kamal al-Harrabi, a young boy, was also killed. Several civilian deaths have also been reported in Benghazi.

In both Tripoli and Benghazi the indiscriminate shelling of urban areas using mortars, artillery, GRAD rockets and anti-aircraft weapons has been extensive. Firing such imprecise weapons in urban areas resulting in death or injury to civilians amounts to a war crime. All parties to the conflict must cease indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks and the authorities must launch effective and independent investigations into all credible allegations of war crimes perpetrated during these two conflicts.

“Armed groups involved in the fighting have demonstrated a recklessness towards civilians and their property in recent weeks, launching indiscriminate attacks while paying little attention to the devastating consequences of such irresponsible actions,” said Philip Luther.

In and around Benghazi, a coalition of Islamist militias and armed groups, including Ansar al-Sharia, which was recently re-named the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries, has been engaged in a conflict against armed forces allied with retired General Khalifa Haftar since mid-May.

In Tripoli, rival militias from Zintan and Misratah and their respective allies, have been fighting for control of Tripoli International Airport since 13 July.

Indiscriminate shelling in urban areas surrounding the capital’s airport has prompted thousands of residents to flee. Many of them, including foreign diplomats and aid workers, fled across the border to Tunisia. According to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, some 30,000 people crossed the border into Tunisia over the last week, many of them Egyptian workers. Airports in both Tripoli and Benghazi have been shut due to the spiralling violence.

Damage to civilian buildings and infrastructure

As well as the rising civilian death toll, persistent shelling has caused significant damage to civilian buildings and infrastructure in Tripoli and Benghazi.

Scores of civilian homes, as well as factories, mosques and shops, have been damaged or destroyed in the residential areas of Qasr Ben Ghashir, Al-Akwakh, Kremiya and along the main airport road in Tripoli. Farms have been shelled and livestock killed in Qasr Ben Ghashir, according to local authorities. Dozens of houses in the area have been reportedly looted or vandalized by criminal gangs. The looting of private property during armed conflict is prohibited under international law.

The attack on the Zintan militias, in charge of protecting Tripoli International Airport since the fall of Colonel al-Gaddafi, has damaged several buildings and 20 aircraft, according to state officials. The airport has been repeatedly attacked, including with GRAD rockets, since 13 July. While most civilians living in the vicinity of the airport left their homes in the first week of the fighting, others have been unable to leave as a result of shelling or because of a general fuel shortage in the city.

Residents in Tripoli reported a shortage of food, baby milk and medicine for the treatment of chronic diseases as a result of the closure of roads in the southern areas of the city.

Damage to the power station in southern Benghazi and major transmission lines in Tripoli caused by shelling has also caused power cuts in both cities.

At least three medial facilities were damaged in the fighting in Tripoli and two medical warehouses destroyed. A medical clinic and medical warehouse in Benghazi were also partially destroyed as a result of shelling.

Al Afya clinic, the largest private hospital in Tripoli, just 3km away from Tripoli International Airport, was damaged by a GRAD rocket and gunfire after an armed group established a base around 200 metres away from which it was launching attacks on the airport. Staff said that at the time of the shelling there were hundreds of people including medical works, patients and visitors at the hospital. The clinic remained open for the treatment of wounded fighters and civilians in the area but was forced to shut down completely on 17 July after it was hit by mortar fire.

Headline: Impunity reigns for abductions and ill-treatment by pro-Kyiv vigilantes in eastern Ukraine

In eastern Ukraine, the battle lines have been shifting for months, after pro-Russian separatists asserted effective control over several key towns across the region.

In a bid to assert its control, the Ukrainian forces have been fighting for months, to reinstate Kyiv’s authority over areas held by pro-Russian separatists.

Law and order do not necessarily follow. In the broader context of a deteriorating security situation in the east, Amnesty International has recently raised its concerns with the Ukrainian authorities about one particularly errant MP who has been “detaining” – in effect abducting – and ill-treating individuals across the region.

He’s called Oleg Lyashko, he is the leader of the pro-Ukrainian Radical Party, Member of the Ukrainian Parliament and former presidential candidate. He travels in the company of muscular armed young men in military fatigues and the ubiquitous camera to record his exploits. His website makes for some grim viewing – Oleg Lyashko is shown entering private and public premises, always accompanied by armed men, and subsequently abducting individuals or forcing them to carry out his instructions.

Oleg Lyashko is supposed to be a lawmaker, but he has taken the law into his own hands. “Glory to Ukraine, death to the occupiers” is his rallying cry.

Though he doesn’t have the right to detain people, he abducts them and abuses them verbally and physically while the camera is rolling. His and other similar websites feature numerous video clips showing what appear to be cases of abduction and violations of the rights to fair trial, liberty and security of the person, and the right not to be subjected to torture and other ill-treatment.

In May 2014, Oleg Lyashko and his armed cohort abducted two men. In a video clip, the two men are sitting hooded with their hands tied in the back of a van. Their hoods are removed and Oleg Lyashko is then seen interrogating one of them, who identifies himself as Igor Khakimzyanov, former “minister of defence” of the self-styled People’s Republic of Donetsk. He is dressed only in his underwear with two bleeding cuts to his body.

Another video, dated 10 March this year, shows Oleg Lyashko abducting a member of Luhansk regional council, Arsen Klinchayev, in an office in Luhansk. The armed men with him hold the council member down by force and then drag him to a bus where he is interrogated. He is bare-chested, handcuffed and clearly dazed. After being driven around, the van returns to the regional council office where Oleg Lyashko verbally abuses and threatens Arsen Klinchayev, including saying he will go to prison for 15 years if he doesn’t obey him.

Three further videos, which appear to be dated 8 July, expose Oleg Lyashko’s continuing campaign of violence, intimidation and abduction against individuals. In one, he forces the mayor of Slovyansk to write a ‘voluntary’ letter of resignation. The mayor is clearly resisting and at one point Oleg Lyashko threatens to throw him out of the fourth-floor window. Eventually, the mayor concedes.

In a second video Oleg Lyashko threatens to kill the local Prosecutor or the chief of the Slovyansk police department, whom he blames for not having yet arrested Vitaly Rybalko, an alleged pro-Russian separatist leader. The police chief gives him Vitaly Rybalko’s private address and he and his armed men are then seen entering Vitaly Rybalko’s home, abducting him and taking him back to the police chief.

A third video shows Oleg Lyashko interrogating a 62-year-old man who cannot be identified as he has a plastic bag over his head. His hands are tied to his legs with tape and he is huddled awkwardly in an unidentifiable place. Oleg Lyashko is questioning him about his involvement with separatists, an allegation he denies.

One of the most recent video clips on Oleg Lyashko’s website is a television news report showing him and four armed men abducting Yuriy Borisov, allegedly the acting mayor of Stakhanov, Berdyansk on 27 July and, at one point, even kicking him. A video clip the next day shows Yuriy Borisov on his knees apologizing to the Ukrainian people for his part in organizing a “referendum” in Stakhanov on 10 May following which the separatists declared “independence” from Kyiv.

Amnesty International regards the actions of Oleg Lyashko and his armed associates as a flagrant violation of international legal standards which clearly state that only competent authorities can arrest or detain people. Despite that, to date, Oleg Lyashko is enjoying complete impunity.

Amnesty International has documented the deteriorating security situation in eastern Ukraine, with abuses perpetrated by both sides of the conflict, including incidents of abduction and ill-treatment of captives by both pro-Kyiv forces and separatist armed groups.

Over many years Amnesty International has documented the vulnerability of ordinary people at the hands of corrupt officials and the continuing failure of the Ukrainian authorities to properly investigate human rights violations and bring perpetrators to justice. Given the extraordinary circumstances facing Ukraine today, this ongoing impunity will only further undermine the rule of law.

In a recent letter to the General Prosecutor of Ukraine, Amnesty International called for an immediate investigation into violations committed by Oleg Lyashko and all incidents of abduction and ill-treatment by pro-Kyiv forces. Amnesty International delegates met with senior representatives of the National Security Council, the Ministry of the Interior and State Security Service at the end of June, and in each of these meetings we were repeatedly told that Oleg Lyashko is not authorized to carry out detentions.

All those responsible for, or complicit in, these violations must be brought to justice, and the victims of such abuses must receive reparation.

Additionally, anyone who has been abducted must be released immediately and, in cases where abductees are handed over to the Ukrainian authorities, they must be promptly informed of any charges against them, given immediate access to a lawyer and brought promptly before a judge or released.

Anything less is a recipe for further abuses and impunity, where the likes of Oleg Lyashko can run riot with no fear of being brought to justice.

Fiji’s Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama’s eight years in power have seen ongoing serious human rights violations fuel a climate of fear that must be brought to an end, Amnesty International said in a new briefing published ahead of the leader’s visit to New Zealand this week.

As Fiji prepares for parliamentary elections next month – the first in the eight years since Bainimarama took power in the 2006 military coup – Fiji: Play Fair, A human rights agenda documents the continued suppression of freedom of expression, violations of workers’ rights and use of torture by security forces, all of which the government must urgently address.

“A combination of draconian laws, a pattern of intimidation and harassment of those who are critical of the government, as well as reports of torture by the security forces, have created a climate of fear in Fiji,” said Rupert Abbott, Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia-Pacific Director.

Despite Prime Minister Bainimarama’s commitments to create “a level playing field for all Fijians,” human rights defenders, journalists and trade union leaders continue to face harassment and intimidation for peacefully carrying out their legitimate work.

The briefing documents the case of Kris Prasad, a peaceful activist for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people. He was one of 12 people arrested in September 2013 for peacefully protesting against the new Constitution, which came into force that month.

In late April 2014, police again contacted Prasad and other activists, saying that they wanted to reopen the investigation and conduct further interviews – measures that Prasad describes as “tactics of intimidation”.

“Restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and association in Fiji should be lifted and acts of intimidation and harassment against government critics and peaceful activists must stop,” said Rupert Abbott.

The government continues to violate workers’ rights by banning strike action for many industries and by intimidating and harassing trade union officials.

In another case highlighted in the human rights agenda, trade union leaders Felix Anthony and Daniel Urai have been arrested and charged with multiple criminal offences over the past two years, including the more serious charges of sedition, for peacefully advocating for workers’ rights.

Compounding the climate of fear are repeated reports of Fijian security forces using torture and other ill-treatment against people in custody. Perpetrators of these and other human rights violations enjoy impunity, with broad amnesties entrenched in the new Constitution.

In a video that surfaced online in February last year, security forces can be seen assaulting a recaptured prisoner. In the disturbing film, Iowene Bendito was repeatedly hit with sticks and batons, while another man was dragged along the ground by a dog. Following the release of the video, Bainimarama reportedly said he would “stand by his men”.

“Torture and ill treatment by security forces must be stopped and those responsible for such crimes held to account,” said Rupert Abbott.

“It is not enough to say the right things when abroad while allowing the repression to continue at home. Prime Minister Bainimarama and his government should act now to end the climate of fear.”

In the run up to election, CPAG is organising a Hikoi for Children on Saturday 6 September from Britomart to Aotea Square in Auckland and we really want YOU to be part of it!

We aim for this to be a really positive, colourful, child-friendly event, bringing together people from all sections in our society to show the nation how much we care about our children’s well-being and calling ALL political parties to come together, agree to and implement a national strategy and action plan to end child poverty in our country so all our beautiful children can reach their potential.

Join us to find out more and be part of the team – all welcome!

When: Monday 11 August, 7.30pm

Where: Unite Union’s National Office,

6a Western Springs Rd, Kingsland, Auckland

We’ve got the basics sorted but need a big team of fantastic volunteers to make sure this event reaches true levels of awesomeness.

We need lots of people on the day for jobs but also in the lead-up to help us organise transport, security, entertainment, sound and all the other logistics – and most importantly to help us bring in the crowds!

Please let your friends, family and wider networks know too. Together we can make a difference.

As always, thank you for your interest and support,

The CPAG Team

p.s – Can’t make it but still want to help? Why not make a donation to support this event and CPAG’s wider work? Donate Now

p.p.s – Not in Auckland but want to be involved? We’d love to make this a nationwide event – contact us about extending the event to your area.

National MPs on Parliament’s Social Services Select Committee have wimped out on cleaning up slum boarding houses, says Labour’s housing spokesperson Phil Twyford.

The committee has just reported back to Parliament the results of an inquiry into whether current regulations are up to the job of ensuring decent conditions in boarding houses.

“Some boarding houses are a last resort for people who would otherwise be homeless, and the inquiry heard that some tenants are putting up with unsafe, unsanitary and unhealthy living conditions. It is not good enough that vulnerable people are left to rot in slum conditions.

“Unfortunately the National MPs on the committee refused to take the obvious step of setting up a licensing regime that would see rogue operators denied a license to operate.

“They were content to wring their hands about the problem, but when it came down to solutions the best they could come up with was to ask government agencies to share information, and to ask Councils to be more proactive in enforcing standards.

“The current laws and regulations on boarding houses are a joke. There is a mish-mash of outdated laws, no proper set of minimum standards, and no agency clearly responsible for enforcement. No wonder rogue boarding house landlords can rent out slum accommodation with impunity.

“The next Labour-led Government will introduce a positive licensing regime for boarding houses based on a clear set of minimum standards. Boarding house operators will have to apply for a license, and rogue operators will be shown the door. We will do a thorough legislative review to update the rules, and mandate local government responsibility for enforcement.

“It is simply not on for some of the country’s most vulnerable people to be allowed to languish in Victorian-era slum conditions.”

Headline: Labour promises swimmable rivers and lakes over a generation

A Labour Government will ensure that all New Zealand’s water lakes and rivers are swimmable, fishable and suitable for food gathering, says Labour’s water spokesperson Meka Whaitiri announcing Labour’s Water policy.

To clean up the nation’s freshwater inside a generation, Labour will introduce a National Policy Statement based on the principles of the Sheppard report which will enforce standards and dates when those standards have to be met.

“Our clean rivers and lakes must not be allowed to get dirty, and our dirty rivers and lakes must be cleaned up.

“As part of our clean-up we will also be introducing a fairly priced resource rental on any large water takes for irrigation.

“We believe that the use of water for irrigation is a privilege, not an inalienable right. A resource rental is the best tool for making sure fresh water is used efficiently. However we will support proposals for water storage and irrigation schemes provided they have a broad consensus from their communities.

“Labour will use resource rentals to pay for irrigation schemes rather than paying for them out of tax and asset sales.

“Dirty water is not just a rural issue and we will ensure our cities and towns carefully monitor industrial and domestic waste. Labour will also seek to resolve iwi and hapu rights and interest in freshwater through direct dialogue.

“We will not allow the privatisation of our drinking water, whether its supply or infrastructure. We are opposed to any trading of water and under a Labour government water surpluses will be returned to regional councils,” Meka Whaitiri said.

Taxpayers are unable to hold the Government to account for its multi million dollar Primary Growth Partnership slush fund before next month’s election, Labour’s Primary Industries spokesperson Damien O’Connor says.

“The Office of the Auditor General agreed to look into this programme last June. Although more than a year has passed, the Office has informed Labour its report will not be released until after the election.

“The Primary Growth Partnership programme continues to be an unaccountable slush fund for the National Party’s industry mates.

“It was set up with much fanfare and promises; and $350 million of taxpayer money.

“But despite the public relations and government spin, there has been no evidence this money is being well spent.

“The Government has failed to provide accountability on its Primary Growth Partnership programmes.

“Questions must be now be asked as to whether the Government has interfered to ensure this report is not made public before the election – and what they are trying to hide,” Damien O’Connor says.

“The wage and employment statistics out today, the last before the election, show how the Government has failed workers over its two terms,” says CTU President, Helen Kelly. “Unemployment has at last fallen below 6% but at 5.6% and 137,000 people, it is still far higher than the 3.5% in December 2007 – so we know we can and should do much better. Despite the luck of booming dairy sales (now running out) and lots of jobs created for the Canterbury rebuild, which account for half of the growth in employment during the year, the Government has created a record of 20 quarters – five years – with unemployment higher than Australia. We usually have lower unemployment than Australia: over two-thirds of the time since 1986.” Kelly said. “This is the first quarter to end that appalling record, but reflects temporary factors, not a permanent turn around in jobs. On top of the 137,000 unemployed are 104,500 looking for work but not officially classified as unemployed – up from 97,200 a year ago. The number of part-time workers wanting more hours has risen from 87,500 to 98,200 over the year.” Kelly said.

“The Government has discriminated against young people with youth rates, and we were told that 90-day fire-at-will trials were meant to help them into jobs. The evidence from their own Ministry (MBIE) [1] is that 90 day trials did nothing for young people but it has stripped them of basic rights, making them even more vulnerable to exploitation. An audit report [2] into the effectiveness of Government changes to the welfare system says 90-day trials are a ‘barrier to sustainable employment’. The proportion of 20-24 year olds not in work, education or training is higher than in Sept last year, even after taking seasonal effects into account, and is still too high. There are still 71,000 young people not in employment, education or training,” Kelly said.

“Wage growth has been appalling. Workers are not getting a fair share of the growth in the economy. It looks like growth is peaking, yet wages still have lots of catching up to do. The average wage, whose rise fell behind inflation in the last quarter, is only 1.4% higher than it was 5 years ago in June 2009 after taking account of price rises, and middle-income earners are falling behind even the average wage. Housing costs are eating into families’ living standards, increasingly giving them a choice between huge debts from buying an unaffordable house or trying to make do in a poor quality rental and having to move far too often. The Household Incomes Report showed the half of households with the lowest incomes saw no increase in their incomes between 2009 and 2013, with housing a big contribution to poverty and inequality.” Kelly said.

“We need a new Government that gives priority to higher wages. That needs a strong rise in the minimum wage and a commitment to real improvements in how wages are negotiated. This Government only promises to strip away further work rights, meaning stagnating wages, increasing inequality, and struggling families. It’s time to change the Government.” Kelly said.

[1] Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. (2014). Evaluation of the Short-term Outcomes of the 2010 Changes to the Employment Relations Act and Holidays Act, http://www.dol.govt.nz/publications/research/short-term-outcomes-2010-changes-era-and-ha/

[2] Work and Income: “2013 Benefit System Performance Report for the year ended 30 June 2013”, 7 April 2014. https://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/evaluation/investment-approach/index.html

“The benefits of economic recovery have largely been for the few. Most households are worse off under this Government.”

New data today shows that six years under National has translated into more people without jobs and salaries and wages down in real terms, the Green Party said today.

“The benefits of economic recovery have largely been for the few. Most households are worse off under this Government,” Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said today.

June quarter Labour Cost Index figures show ordinary time salary and wages have dropped 4.2 percent from the September 2008 quarter, before National came to power, when adjusted using the Reserve Bank of New Zealand wage inflation calculator. Statistics New Zealand says the Labour Cost Index is the best measure of earnings.

Statistics New Zealand also today released the Household Labour Force Survey which shows the unemployment rate fell to 5.6 percent in the June quarter from a revised 5.9 percent in the March quarter but it is still well ahead of the 4.6 percent rate when National took office.

“Today’s numbers confirm what most people have been feeling for years – their pay is not keeping up with the rising cost of living,” Mrs Turei said.

“This gives the lie to Bill English’s claim that average wages have risen under National. For people who are struggling to pay their power bill or haven’t got a job – this is far from a rock star economy.

“It certainly isn’t a rock star economy for the one-in-four children who are in poverty.

“National has materially failed to grow jobs and wages, and failed to protect households from rising house and power prices,” Mrs Turei said.

“Families with a mortgage are being squeezed even further because the Reserve Bank has hiked interest rates four times since March, mainly because National has failed to rein in the housing market and such things as power prices.

“Voters will have a clear choice next month. National offers a backward-looking business-as-usual, polluting economic future based on milk powder and mining.

“The Green Party alternative vision is to invested in education, research and science so we create an innovative, non-polluting economy that is jobs-rich,” Mrs Turei said.

“National has bet the farm on the farm and it isn’t working. A growing reliance on one or two commodity exports has made our economy more vulnerable to commodity price swings.

“Producing increasing amounts of milk powder also has huge, downstream environmental impacts. We need to build a smart green economy with much lower carbon emissions and water pollution.

“A smarter way forward is to invest in innovation and policies that support our manufacturing and ICT export sectors.

“National is not building a strong, resilient export sector.”

Last month the Green Party launched their economic plan to build a smarter, more innovative economy which has, as its centrepiece, an additional $1 billion of government investment in research and development (R&D), including tax breaks for business.

“Innovation lies at the heart of a smart, green economy. Economies that innovate do better over the long term, creating good jobs that pay well while protecting the environment,” said Dr Norman.

“Our economy is on the wrong track. We invest half what most other developed countries do on research and development.

“Innovation is a key driver of prosperity in advanced economies, yet this current Government has relied on an economic strategy of simply doing more: producing more milk solids, mining more minerals, securing more free trade deals, and working longer hours.

“We want businesses to get on with innovating and exporting high value products that command high prices and support high wages. Our R&D tax credit is the simplest and quickest way to spur innovation activity.

“Voters have a choice this election: National’s simplified economy that creates few jobs and remains vulnerable to commodity price cycles; or a smarter, greener economy where innovation flourishes and manufacturers develop high value exports,” said Dr Norman.

‘Housing and Child Poverty’ with special supplement on Christchurch

Guest speaker: Alan Johnson

Alan Johnson, Author of ‘Housing and Child Poverty’ will discuss changes in the housing market and its effects on children with a special focus on the unique circumstances of Canterbrians.

Alan is CPAG’s Co-Convenor and Housing spokesperson in addition to being Policy analyst for The Salvation Army’s Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit and author of their annual ‘State of the Nation’ reports. He has also held leadership roles in Community Housing Aotearoa and the Auckland Community Housing Trust.

With special comment from: Helen Gatonyi from Tenants Protection Association

Contact

Sara Epperson and Nathalie Blakely CPAG Christchurch chch@cpag.org.nz

More about CPAG’s 2014 Policy Paper Series

The aim of CPAG’s policy paper series, Our Children, Our Choice: Priorities for Policy, is to provide an overview of the situation for many children in New Zealand in the lead up to the 2014 general election and to support the immediate adoption by all political parties of child-focussed policies to reduce child poverty and mitigate its effects.

The 2014 publications recommend changes to current policy around children’s health; early childhood education and care; provision of compulsory education; housing; and family incomes. Each policy paper is authored by experts in their field, and contains links to other resources including audio-visual material

Headline: Iran: New wave of attacks against journalists as repression escalates

A sharp rise in arrests, prosecutions and imprisonment of independent journalists in Iran signals the authorities’ utter determination to crush hopes for increased freedom heralded by the election of President Hassan Rouhani, said Amnesty International in a new briefing today.

“The way journalists are being treated puts everything journalism should stand for at risk in Iran. Anyone deemed critical of the authorities has been at increased risk of arrest and prosecution in recent months, creating an intense climate of fear where voicing any criticism has become a direct road to prison,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Deputy Middle East and North Africa Programme Director at Amnesty International.

“The authorities’ zero tolerance for anything other than state-sanctioned ideas and voices means that merely reporting the news can put people at risk of incarceration.”

The wave of repression which intensified after the disputed presidential election in 2009 has reached new highs over the past few months. The authorities appear to have widened the circle of repression in a bid to crumple any aspirations for change created by the promises of increased freedoms that followed the election of President Hassan Rouhani in 2013.

Iranian journalists and foreign correspondents have faced harassment, intimidation, arrest and imprisonment for their legitimate journalistic activities. Other media workers, such as filmmakers, have also faced judicial bans preventing them from carrying out their work.

Many of those arrested are charged under provisions of the Islamic Penal Code which loosely define ‘crimes’ such as “spreading lies”, “spreading propaganda against the system”, and “creating unease in the public mind”, in effect criminalizing a wide range of peaceful activities. The authorities are also using protracted prosecutions, unserved prison sentences and denial of medical leave as threats hanging over the heads of journalists who dare to criticize authorities.

“These overly broad legal provisions have in effect been used as a tool to stop media professionals from providing independent news to the world about the social and political situation in Iran,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui.

“Iran’s Judiciary is toying with the law and using drawn-out trials and unserved prison sentences to coerce independent journalists into self-censorship.”

Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post’s correspondent in Iran and a dual Iranian-American national, and his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, a journalist for the United Arab Emirates newspaper the National, were arrested on 22 July 2014 in Tehran. Three days later, Gholamhossein Esma’ili, the Head of Tehran’s Judiciary confirmed the arrests, saying that further information will only be provided upon the completion of “technical investigations and interrogations”.

The whereabouts of both journalists are still unknown.

In a separate case, Saba Azarpeik, a journalist working for a number of reformist publications in Tehran, was arrested on 28 May 2014 and is also being held in an undisclosed location. She was brought before Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran on 21 and 22 July to face charges of “spreading propaganda against the system” and “spreading lies” linked to her previous arrest in January 2013.

Journalist and member of the Participation Front political party Hossein Nourani Nejad, is facing six years of imprisonment after a Revolutionary Court in Tehran sentenced him for “spreading propaganda against the system” and “gathering and colluding against national security” in June 2014. He had been arrested on 21 April 2014 and taken to solitary confinement in Evin Prison in Tehran.

Two months before his arrest, he had returned to Iran from Australia, where he was a postgraduate student, to see his new-born child for the first time. Hossein Nourani Nejad had been arrested previously in 2009.

Another journalist, Serajeddin Mirdamadi, was also sentenced to six years in prison on 27 July on the charges of “gathering and colluding against national security” and “spreading propaganda against the system”.

Mahnaz Mohammadi, a documentary filmmaker and women’s rights activist, Reyhaneh Tabatabaei, a journalist and a former writer for Shargh and Bahar newspapers, Marzieh Rasouli, an editor of a number of reformist newspapers, and journalist Sajedeh Arabsorkhi were also among the media workers summoned in recent months to start serving prison terms handed down on them on broadly defined national security charges.

“Independent journalism is not a crime. Authorities in Iran must immediately and unconditionally release all those who have been arrested and imprisoned in recent months only for peacefully exercising their legitimate right to freedom of expression, association and assembly,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui.

The reports that Edward Snowden has been living in Russia with precarious “temporary leave to remain” rather than under any formal asylum protection is further evidence he must be allowed to travel to and seek asylum in the country of his choice, said Amnesty International today.

Russia’s one-year permit for the whistle-blower and former US intelligence analyst to stay in the country is now reported to have expired without confirmation that it will be extended.

“Edward Snowden is cornered in a legal limbo, without a passport or asylum protection from any government,” said Sherif Elsayed-Ali, Deputy Director of Global Thematic Issues at Amnesty International.

States should fully consider any asylum application from Edward Snowden, taking into account the massive human rights violations that he exposed, and noting the US government’s repressive actions against him.

“We call on all governments not to block him from travelling in order to seek protection. By interfering in his ability to do so, they are effectively complicit with the USA in his unjustified and repressive punishment,” said Sherif Elsayed-Ali.

European states have reportedly refused to allow him to even cross their airspace to travel.

“The USA has revoked Edward Snowden’s passport, however any state could issue Edward Snowden with a travel document. We are calling on governments around the world to facilitate his travel and process any asylum application he should file,” said Sherif Elsayed-Ali.

The UN Security Council, the Palestinian Authority and Israel must do everything within their power to enable the International Criminal Court (ICC) to bring to justice those responsible for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the current and past Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, said Amnesty International.

Since 8 July, more than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing hostilities. According to the UN, the majority of those killed have been Palestinian civilians, including at least 252 children. Three civilians in Israel have been killed by indiscriminate rockets or mortars fired from Gaza, and 61 Israeli soldiers have also been killed. There is mounting evidence that war crimes have been committed by all parties.

Over several decades, Amnesty International has collected compelling evidence of war crimes and other crimes under international law committed by Israel, Hamas and Palestinian armed groups, but perpetrators on both sides continue to enjoy impunity.

“Ongoing injustice for victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity is a shame that hangs heavy on the world. Once again the international community has done little more than wring its hands over the latest hostilities,” said Salil Shetty, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.

“An International Criminal Court investigation is crucial to end the pervasive culture of impunity. All sides must push for the Court to investigate such crimes in order to halt the vicious cycle of violations and injustice once and for all.”

In an open letter to the UN Security Council published yesterday, Amnesty International urges its members to take immediate steps to refer the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to the Prosecutor of the ICC, among other actions, including imposing a comprehensive arms embargo, to address the crisis.

The UN Security Council has repeatedly failed to take effective action to respond to violations in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories or hold perpetrators accountable, in large part because of opposition from the USA, which has repeatedly vetoed resolutions critical of Israel. On some occasions the USA has been the sole voice against all other members of the Council.

“The UN Security Council must not stand by yet again and bear witness to mounting atrocities. It must seize this moment to act decisively for justice,” said Salil Shetty.

Amnesty International is also calling on both the Palestinian and Israeli authorities to support a Security Council referral, and take other measures that would allow the ICC to step in and ensure their co-operation with the Court.

In particular, the organization calls on the Palestinian Authority to submit a declaration accepting the ICC’s jurisdiction over crimes under international law committed since 1 July 2002, when the Court was established. Amnesty International also calls on the Palestinian Authority to become a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC.

In recent days senior Palestinian officials have announced an intention to join the ICC.

“They must make good on their words and seize this chance to move towards accountability for countless victims of human rights violations by submitting a declaration accepting the jurisdiction of the ICC without further delay,” said Salil Shetty.

The Palestinian Authority has been consistently pressured by the USA, Israel, Canada, the UK and other EU Member States not to take steps to grant the ICC jurisdiction; such pressure has included threats to withdraw financial assistance on which the Palestinian Authority depends.

“We shouldn’t be seeing threats to slash aid for those who seek justice,” said Salil Shetty.

All states should be encouraging Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to become a party to the Rome Statute.

Amnesty International is also urging Israel to accede to the Rome Statute and issue a declaration accepting ICC jurisdiction over crimes committed since July 2002 to ensure justice for Israeli victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel participated in the negotiations leading to the ICC’s establishment but in 2002 stated that it would not ratify its Statute.

“It is high time that Israel reconsiders its opposition to the ICC and commits to the rule of law and the fight against impunity,” said Salil Shetty.

The striking-down of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act is a step towards stopping state-sponsored discrimination in its tracks, said Amnesty International.

“Even though Uganda’s abominable Anti-Homosexuality Act was scrapped on the basis of a technicality, it is a significant victory for Ugandan activists who have campaigned against this law. Since it was first being floated in 2009, these activists have often put their safety on the line to ensure that Ugandan law upholds human rights principles,” said Sarah Jackson, Deputy Regional Director at Amnesty International.

“We now hope that this step forward translates into real improvements in the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people in Uganda, who have been trapped in a vicious circle of discrimination, threats, abuse and injustice for too long.”

Since Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act came into force in March 2014, Amnesty International documented a sharp increase in arbitrary arrests, police abuse and extortion against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people.

Many lost their jobs, were left homeless or were effectively forced to flee the country.

Uganda’s Constitutional Court today ruled that the Act was “null and void” as not enough representatives were in the room for the vote when it was passed by parliament in December 2013.

Section 145 of Uganda’s Penal Code, which remains in force, continues to criminalize “carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature”.

National must bail out the community organisations and small businesses that are carrying the cost of its failed TV Take Back scheme, the Green Party said today.

“Some community organisations are up to $30,000 out of pocket because of the failed scheme,” said Green Party Waste spokesperson Denise Roche.

“The National Government needs to help these organisations. It should not be their responsibility to pay for National’s white elephant.”

The TV Takeback scheme was put in place to deal with the glut of old TVs needing to be recycled as a result of the digital switch-over.

The Ministry for the Environment brokered a rushed deal with Auckland based company RCN E-Waste Limited to process the TVs, but RCN has since been put into liquidation and almost 100,000 TVs are now stockpiled at drop off points around the country.

“This has meant some, like EarthLink in Lower Hutt, are owed tens of thousands of dollars from RCN and are paying $1,000 a month for container hire and storage fees,” said Ms Roche.

“All community recyclers operate on a very tight budget and extra costs threaten their viability. They simply cannot afford to carry the can because the government-brokered deal failed.

RCN’s liquidation has been put down in part to underfunding by the Government. The Government offered RCN around $21 per TV when international experience shows the actual true cost is around $40.

“Community recyclers and councils were keen to participate because the project would also set up a network of drop off points across the country that could be utilised for other types of electronic waste after the TV Take Back scheme concluded,” said Ms Roche.

“However the underfunding of the TV Takeback scheme has jeopardised the whole e-waste drop-off network across the country.

“Minister Amy Adams should shoulder some responsibility and reimburse these organisations from the Waste Minimisation Fund to ensure the drop off network survives for future e-waste collections.”

The Green Party has requested that Amy Adams declare TVs a priority product and regulate to include an advance disposal fee in their sale price. The Minister has so far declined to do so.

“We can avoid this type of recycling price blow out in the future. In the meantime our recycling organisations need to be supported,” Ms Roche said.

Posted on August 4, 2014 by admin in Hone Harawira, Press Releases“If there’s any truth to what I have seen today, then somebody’s head should roll” said MANA leader and Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira when told of emails suggesting Kelvin Davis’ campaign team in Tai Tokerau was planning to launch an attack campaign against him with money solicited from National.
“Changing the government is going to be tough enough – it’ll be bloody impossible if Labour does dirty deals with National” said Harawira.
“National has been directly responsible for driving up unemployment, homelessness, ill health, and poverty for Maori right across the north” said Harawira. “I’m trying to get rid of them and Kelvin Davis and his crew are doing deals with them!”
“I’m gutted, and Maori in Tai Tokerau will be seriously troubled that Davis and his mates are cozying up to the people who have caused so much damage to our communities”
“And don’t buy this rubbish about me having more money because of Kim Dotcom either” said Harawira. “You’re only allowed to spend $25,000 anyway and I’d already banked mine before MANA signed its deal with the Internet Party”
“Where does this go now?”
“As a matter of principle, Davis should either admit that he knew what was going on here and resign, or state categorically that he didn’t and sack his campaign team”
“Either way, he owes the people of the north an apology”

This author has not entered his bio yet but feel free to check out other articles by him anyhow.

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As a union we are very keen to have a Labour-led government established that can take steps to help lift workers’ wages and improve their living standards more broadly. This week’s policy announcement of “A fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work” begins to make that seem a possibility.

An increase of two dollars an hour in two steps by early 2015 will make a meaningful difference for hundreds of thousands of workers. For Unite Union nearly all our collective agreements begin with the minimum wage so we will begin bargaining in the new year with a 14% pay increase in the bag. That will allow us to focus on the other big issue workers we represent face – getting secure hours. Labour also committed to raising the minimum wage to two-thirds of the average wage by the end of the second term. This is the first time this has been promised by Labour even with the escape clause of “as economic conditions allow”.

Other promises include:

Ensure that all core public service workers are paid at least the Living Wage, and extend this as fiscal conditions permit

Make the Crown a leader in good employment practises and ensure that government bodies only contract with businesses that are good employers

Hold a Commission of Inquiry into wages and collective bargaining, and implement its findings to ensure workers get a fair deal

Review health and safety laws and ensure Worksafe New Zealand is adequately resourced

In the first 100 days Labour will:

increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour, with a further increase to $16.25 an hour in early 2015;

introduce 26 weeks paid parental leave;

set a course to raise the minimum wage to two-thirds of the average wage by the end of our second term, as economic conditions allow;

restore workers’ right to contest dismissals during the first 90 days of employment by abolishing the current government’s Fire At Will law;

scrap youth rates, because they violate the principle of equal pay for equal work;

restore reinstatement as the primary remedy when an employee has been unjustifiably dismissed, along with the objective test for justification;

restore union access rights;

maintain the presumption that a collective agreement will be concluded once bargaining is initiated;

ensure fair procedures for multi-employer bargaining;

strengthen the present facilitation processes so that after a reasonable period of time a determination is made rather than waiting for agreement between the parties;

restore the right of film and television workers to collective bargaining.

During the speeches for the closing of parliament Labour Leader David Cunliffe appeared much more comfortable and confident presenting a programme that would make a difference in peoples lives. The right wing are so much on the back foot over issues of income inequality that they have no coherent response. That is a good thing.

Up to now in the electoral cycle Labour and its leader David Cunliffe seemed trapped in a bubble and unable to connect with working people and their concerns. Some policy announcements like those around raising the age of national superannuation and rapidly paying off the national debt seem designed to reassure big business while putting off workers whose bodies can’t face manual work until they are in their late 60s. Other outbursts were just foolish given how they would be read by the media. That also revealed a real lack of consultation by him with his campaign team – another worry.

The latest Roy Morgan opinion poll however is starting to look promising. National have regularly been polling above 50% – enough to govern alone. The left consoled itself with the fact that this was true before the last two elections and they dropped 6% or so during the election campaign period. In this poll National has dropped to 46% before the main campaign period has begun. Labour is on 30%, the Greens on 12%, Internet Mana 2.5% – a 1.5% difference that bloc of parties committed to changing the government and National. If that bloc can get just 3% more between them then it is all over for the government.

The deal National have done with Act and United Future is of little net gain gain to the right. In the Roy Morgan Poll both are on 0.5% of the party vote. Assuming that vote would have gone to National anyway and given them one more list MP, then the deal with both parties is only a gain of one.

Because there are 120 seats in parliament then each 0.8% of the party vote is usually enough for an MP. Actually, because of wasted votes – votes for parties that don’t reach the threshold of five percent or win an electorate – then 0.7% is enough in practise.

So long as Act and United Future remain below 1.4% in the party vote – which seems assured – then they will be unable to bring in any additional MP’s with them. So any improvement for either party between 0.5% and 1.4% is a wasted vote.

The real danger was the Conservative Party. Although it is only on 1% on the Roy Morgan Poll it seems more likely to get 1.4% of the party vote or above. But because they are unlikely to win a seat or reach the 5% threshold then all their party vote will be wasted. National seriously considered pulling their candidate to make sure the Conservative leader Colin Craig won. But Winston Peter’s threat to run in the electorate if that happened killed off that idea. A smart move on his part.

The Maori Party remains a danger. In the Roy Morgan poll they get 1.5%. That has been reasonably steady in most polls. The only electorate they could possibly win is the Waiariki electorate held by current party leader Te Ururoa Flavell. If he wins he gets to bring in at least one more for the right. That is why is is extraordinarily stupid for Labour leader David Cunliffe to rule out a tactical vote for Mana candidate Annette Sykes in that electorate. The Labour candidate has no chance of winning. Annette came a close second last time and is poised to take the seat. It makes complete sense for Labour to say that in this electorate they are campaigning for the party vote only. A defeat for Flavell means a reduction in the number of MP’s on the right of at least two and possibly three if the Maori Party was to lift its party vote to 2.1%.

The last player this election is NZ First. They are on 5% in the latest poll and seem likely to get at least that. However they cannot be trusted to go with the opposition bloc if they hold the balance of power. If Labour is able to form a government with the Greens and NZ First they will do so. But it would be far preferable if Internet Mana also had a balance of power on the left that could neutralise the votes of NZ First if required in order to pass more progressive legislation that NZ First would be comfortable with. Internet Mana doesn’t need to have ministerial portfolios for that to happen. In fact as I have explained elsewhere I hope they don’t formally go into government.

I accept that Labour are not what I would describe as a system-changing party. For me the Mana Movement is the only party that fits that bill. It has shown itself to be a party committed to radical change to put power into the hands of the majority of working people so that they call the shots not the super-rich one percent who do now.

But as a unionist who wants the best for my members I also know that no one wants to wait decades for a new society when benefits can be won today. That is why most workers vote for what they think are more “realistic” modest changes being put forward by the likes of Labour and the Greens.

The problem with being more realistic all the time is that it inspires no one. More people did not vote in the last election than voted for the winning National Party. Most of those people would have voted for the opposition parties if they had voted. They felt no compelling reason to do so. They don’t trust the traditional parties and their leaders. In Latin America on the other hand it was the “radical” parties in Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador who were able to win massive electoral majorities and mobilise people in their millions because the alternative they were proposing involved fundamental changes to power and wealth in society. As a rule the majorities they won in elections increased rather than decreased the more radical and system challenging they were.

By failing to challenge the system and its distribution of wealth and power the moderate parties also often retreated in the face of right wing business opposition. This happened under the Helen Clarke-led Labour government from 1999-2008 which seemed to run out of progressive ideas within a year or two of being elected. Or in an even worse scenario the leaders of these parties get seduced and corrupted to the point they are willing to do everything necessary to keep the system going (on terms set by big business) even if it involves massive attacks on their own supporters. This was true of the 1984-90 Labour government in New Zealand and the Tony Blair-led Labour government in the UK.

However, when they do promise changes that benefit working people in order to be elected then we need to hold them to account. Unite did this when the Labour pronised an increase to the minimum wage from $9 an hour to $12 “if economic conditions permitted” in 2005. We organised a mass political and industrial campaign in support of this demand and the abolition of youth rates. We won both demands. We should organise just as massively to win additional real increases in the minimum wage to met the target of two-thirds of the avearge wage. To be indifferent to that possibility because “these parties always betray us in the end” is simply to betray the interests of the working class which needs to intervene in these debates between establishment parties to advance our own agenda through independent political and industrial action.

But the most important thing workers should fight for from a future Labour-led government that feels the need to maintain our votes are the tools to organise with and build our own power. We should demand from the next government laws that allow unions to organise hundreds of thousands of workers into unions so we can change the power relationships between the bosses and the workers in a more fundamental way. This must include the right to take industrial action to enforce agreements as well as negotiate them. As the old saying goes hand-outs are OK but hand-ups are much more meaningful in the long term.

The next Labour Government will keep rural and residential land in Kiwi hands, Labour’s Finance spokesperson David Parker says.

“New Zealanders are sick of seeing their farms and homes sold to overseas buyers with the profits and opportunities going offshore. No overseas person has the right to buy our land.

“In all but the rarest of cases, sales of rural land to overseas buyers will be banned. Non-resident investors will also be banned from buying existing Kiwi homes.

“Changing who owns what already exists does nothing to increase New Zealand’s output. It just sells off New Zealand’s profit stream and kills off the Kiwi dream of owning our farms and homes.

“Labour will reverse the current approach so that overseas buyers of rural land will have to prove they will create more jobs and exports than any New Zealand investor. Given New Zealanders are among the best farmers in the world it is an extremely hard hurdle to get over.

“This will ensure our farms are not priced out of the reach of New Zealanders.

“We will also limit the discretion of the minister to ignore recommendations from the Overseas Investment Office.

“Labour will also restrict sales of residential homes to any non-residents unless they intend to move here, helping to keep the Kiwi home ownership dream alive, especially for young New Zealanders currently locked out of the housing market.

“The National Government is ignoring the legitimate concerns of New Zealanders about New Zealand land and houses being sold to overseas interests.

“Instead of accusing New Zealanders of being xenophobic, John Key and Steven Joyce should respect New Zealanders’ desire to keep New Zealand land in New Zealand hands,” David Parker says.

Industrial action being taken by DHB workers is a direct result of prolonged and chronic underfunding of the sector by National, Labour’s Health spokesperson Annette King says.

“Labour has been warning of a blow-out for some time following increasing pressure being placed on our district health boards.

“Not only has the Government ordered them to save $700 million by 2015, but Treasury’s own modelling shows this year’s health budget has been cut by 2.3 per cent in real terms.

“Put that alongside funding claw-backs in several DHBs whose communities have significant health needs but where the census shows populations have fallen, vacancies not being filled and funding freezes to NGOs, and it is services that ultimately suffer.

“DHB staff have become the meat in the funding sandwich and they have obviously had enough.

“Labour believes access to good health care is the right of every New Zealander, and for that you need a well-supported workforce.

“Good health should not be determined by your ethnicity, where you happen to live or your ability to pay.

“Under a Labour Government funding will keep pace with inflationary costs, setting aside $1 billion a year for health and education initiatives. We will set priorities that take a long term approach to eliminate inequalities in health and improve the health of all Kiwis,” Annette King said.

Headline: New multi-million dollar bill for taxpayers under failed ETS

Monday, 04 Aug 2014 | Press Release

New figures showing taxpayers forked out nearly $6 million in the last year on free pollution permits to Rio Tinto show the emissions trading scheme (ETS) must go, the Green Party said today.

According to the figures, the number of free New Zealand Units (NZUs) allocated to New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Ltd (part of Rio Tinto Alcan) under the ETS jumped from 300,000 in 2012 to over 1.5 million in 2013.

At today’s spot NZU price of $3.90, that amounts to $5.85 million worth of credits. Allocations to several other big polluters have also risen.

“The ETS is a failure and a fraud and it’s time taxpayers stopped footing the bill for it,” said Green Party climate change spokesperson Dr Kennedy Graham.

“The scheme needs to be put out of its misery so ordinary New Zealanders are no longer shouldering the cost of climate pollution.”

As part of its weakening of the ETS, the Government has spent hundreds of millions of dollars gifting free carbon units to big polluters.

Some of these polluters have then surrendered much cheaper international units to meet their emissions obligations under the ETS (a process known as “arbitrage”), thereby profiting at the expense of New Zealanders.

“These latest figures show the National Government is incapable of understanding the basic economic tenets of climate policy”, said Dr Graham.

“If, despite all the mounting evidence about the risks and costs of climate change, National continues to gift free carbon credits to polluting industries at the taxpayers’ expense, it is not only encouraging more pollution, it is also condemning our country to a catastrophic debt burden as the international carbon price rises.

“Climate Change Minister Tim Groser recently admitted that the ETS was designed to allow polluters to ‘maximise their fiscal position’ but ripping taxpayers’ off to the tune of millions is ridiculous.

“The ETS has failed. It was designed to incentivise emission reductions, investment in clean technology, and the planting of trees. It has done none of these things and it is costing ordinary New Zealanders.”

The Green Party announced last month it would scrap the ETS and introduce a fair and transparent carbon tax, the revenue from which will all be returned to households and businesses in the form of tax cuts.

“The Green Party is the only political party offering voters a win-win plan this election that will protect our climate, achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and leave Kiwi families better off,” said Dr Graham.

For more on the ETS permit allocations: http://www.climatechange.govt.nz/emissions-trading-scheme/participating/industry/allocation/decisions/index.html

For the Green Party climate policy: http://www.greens.org.nz/climateplan

A Labour Government will invest $183 million into a comprehensive package aimed at ensuring all New Zealanders under the age of 20 are in work or training by the end of our first term, Labour’s Employment, Skills and Training spokesperson Grant Robertson says.

“There are 75,000 Kiwis aged 15 to 24 who are not in work, education or training. That’s 11 per cent of our young people; double the unemployment rate of the rest of the population.

“Labour is targeting the under 20s because at that age young people make critical decisions about their careers which can determine their pathway in life. Our Youth Employment Package will reach the 24,000 unemployed Kiwis under 20.

“We will also implement a Contract with Youth to target those most in need of intensive support to give them meaningful alternatives to a life on a benefit.

“This includes Kick Start Apprenticeships which will provide employers who take on unemployed 18 and 19-year-olds permanently with a $9,100 subsidy – the equivalent of the dole. There will be 12,000 apprenticeship places over the four years.

“We will fund an additional 2,000 Maori Trades Training places to help address disproportionately high unemployment rates among young Maori. These places will be established through partnerships between tertiary providers, iwi and industry training organisations for key sectors such as fishing and forestry. Labour will also establish 1,500 training places for the some of the 40 per cent of 15 to 19 year old Pasifika people who are unemployed.

“National’s failed boot camps which have a reoffending rate of 83 per cent will be scrapped. Instead we will re-launch the Conservation Corps with 1,500 places in a full-time 20-week course which mixes conservation work, vocational training and confidence building.

“Labour will also reform careers advice to ensure young New Zealanders are helped as they train and move into work. At present this advice ends at school and the quality is highly variable.

“We will disestablish Careers New Zealand and have a different body to oversee our strategy with input from schools, employers, tertiary training providers and careers experts. Labour will commit $17 million to provide more secondary teachers and other staff to improve careers guidance and support in school and out in the community.

“A Labour Government will give young people a way to reach their full potential, and at the same time, create a world class training system that meets the needs of workers, employers and the economy,” Grant Robertson says.

The National Business Review’s 2014 Rich List is a stark reminder of the growing inequality in New Zealand, according to FIRST Union.

This year is the first time the combined wealth of New Zealand’s Rich-Listers has passed $50 billion, more than doubling the combined wealth of Rich-Listers just a decade ago.

“What we’re seeing here is a society in a state of inequality denial, propagated by a government of inequality deniers”, said FIRST Union General Secretary Robert Reid.

“For the bottom half of New Zealanders inflation-adjusted income has barely grown since the mid-1980s. Workers are normally told that wages will rise with productivity gains, but the productivity of the New Zealand workforce is 50% higher now than it was 20 years ago. Workers have been sold a lie.

“This inequality is the result of deliberate policy to keep wages low. John Key, The country’s wealthiest Prime Minister in history and a prominent inequality denier, has seen his personal fortune rise by $5 million over the last year. There’s still no evidence of his productivity rising to meet the inequality challenge.

“New Zealanders have the ability to repaint the picture in this election. Inequality is emerging as the major battleground, and recent policies proposed by the left parties are delineating a clear alternative.”

Starting next week FIRST Union will begin its 2014 Stopwork Meetings around the country, where the union’s work tackling inequality will be highlighted and political leaders will address workers around the country.

The NZ Labour Party’s just-announced industrial relations agenda demonstrates a clear commitment to tackling the growing inequality in New Zealand and restore democracy to our workplaces, according to FIRST Union.

The agenda features a $2 an hour boost to the minimum wage in the first year (with a view to raising it to two-thirds of average wage by the end of their second term), a Commission of Inquiry into wages and collective bargaining and a review of NZ’s health and safety law, including further funding for Worksafe.

“Over the last three decades we have seen a dramatic rise in inequality in New Zealand,” said FIRST Union General Secretary Robert Reid.

“Today the Labour Party is demonstrating a clear intention to turn the tide on that inequality. Wage increases and benchmarking the minimum wage to the average wage will help ensure kiwi workers can provide the basic necessities of life for themselves and their families.

“The focus on unions and collective bargaining is also heartening”, said Robert Reid.

“In New Zealand anti-union legislation has left a legacy of growing unemployment, stagnating wages and increasingly insecure work.

“We are pleased to see the party putting the issue of industry standard agreements to the public for discussion, to prevent the race to the bottom in wages and conditions.

We are also pleased to see that the Labour Party is proposing a Commission of Inquiry to look at legislative loopholes employers use to prevent workers from union protection or other fundamental workers’ rights.

“As the election looms, the policy divide is becoming clearer,” said Robert Reid.

“Workers now have a genuine choice between the parties of the left and the right: between a living wage or wage repression, between job security or precarious work, and between a more equal society or greater inequality.”

The National government’s refusal to restrict cheap international units under the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) has caused significant damage to the carbon forestry sector according to new figures released today says Labour’s Climate Change spokesperson Moana Mackey.

“Only 0.3% of units surrendered under the ETS in 2013 were forestry units. This is just 141,253 units compared to the 5,325,191 surrendered in 2010.

“99.5% of units surrendered by polluters to meet their obligations were international units.

“It is also deeply concerning that more than 700 foresters left the scheme last year.

“Labour has been calling on the government to restrict access to these cheap units since 2012.

“Labour will support the forestry sector by restricting cheap international units, removing the two for one subsidy for polluters, and fixing the ETS. Labour is also promising a forestry sector upgrade which will drive growth in the forestry and wood processing sector .

“The only reason we came out of the first commitment period of Kyoto in the black was because we planted enough trees to offset out ever-increasing gross greenhouse gas emissions. However instead of supporting forestry to grow, the government inexplicably has declared an all-out war on the sector.

“We are heading towards the edge of a cliff post-2020. We need to be providing incentives to plant trees now to offset the level of deforestation which we know is coming.”

Tomorrow afternoon Trade Minister Tim Groser is giving an update on the TPPA negotiations. It’s a paid event for the US and Canadian business community, where he will be trying to explain to business leaders why it is taking so long and what kind of market access will be available.

It’s Our Future NZ – the anti-TPPA organisation – is organising a picket outside from 5pm to 5:30pm and we would be really grateful if as many FIRST staff as possible (and others!) attend so we have a decent turnout. Myself and Jane Kelsey will actually be inside the briefing asking questions and getting the tone of how Groser is explaining the slow process to the business leaders. Mike Treen from Unite has agreed to man the megaphone for us, and I think I’ve twisted Dennis’ arm into assisting also. I’ll make sure there is a big banner and a bunch of signs down there.

It would be great if as many people as possible could attend, just for half an hour or so from 5.

The Green Party is calling for new measures in response to the latest round of violence inflicted on Palestine by Israel, including divestment by the New Zealand Government and the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador.

The Green Party is calling for new measures in response to the latest round of violence inflicted on Palestine by Israel, including divestment by the New Zealand Government and the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador.

The Green Party’s response comes after yet another United Nations school has been shelled by the Israeli Defence Force, resulting in further loss of civilian life.

“Israel’s refusal to heed the call of world leaders to stop the civilian slaughter in Gaza beggars belief,” Green Party spokesperson on global affairs, Dr Kennedy Graham said today.

“The UN Secretary-General has described the indiscriminate bombardment of civilians in Gaza as ‘a moral outrage and a criminal act’.

“We agree. There is no single action in the modern era more morally reprehensible than the slaughter of civilians of this scale coupled with a complete disregard for world opinion.

“The New Zealand Government cannot sit by and do nothing.”

According to figures from 2013 the New Zealand Superfund, owned by the New Zealand public and operated for the public, has $7 million invested in 38 Israeli companies.

“The Government must call on the Superfund to divest from these investments immediately,” Dr Graham said.

“New Zealand cannot sit by and take no action as more innocent Palestinians are killed.

“New Zealand divesting from Israeli companies is a simple action that, along with other countries taking such an action too, can put real economic pressure on Israel to end the atrocities in Gaza.

“The Green Party is also calling on the Government to immediately expel the Israeli Ambassador from New Zealand. This is a clear diplomatic signal we should take in response to the senseless slaughter in Gaza.

“The continued presence of the Israeli Ambassador in New Zealand, coupled with the Government’s soft approach to the Gaza crisis, sends a clear message to Israel that their actions are not sufficient to suspend diplomatic relations. We think they are serious enough, and we would take that step.

“New Zealand should cut off ties at ambassadorial level until Israel’s actions accord, once more, with proper international standards.”

]]>Sacrifices of World War One never forgottenhttps://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/08/04/sacrifices-of-world-war-one-never-forgotten/
Sun, 03 Aug 2014 23:45:37 +0000http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/08/04/sacrifices-of-world-war-one-never-forgotten/MIL OSI – Source: Labour Party –

Headline: Sacrifices of World War One never forgotten

As we today mark 100 years since the beginning of World War One, we remember a time of grief and loss which defined New Zealand as a nation, Labour Leader David Cunliffe says.

“The Great War broke and refashioned so many ideas of who we are. It hurled humanity into the modern era and gave birth to a new international age.

“It was a time of great loss and a century later the sheer weight of that loss remains with us. Of more than 100,000 New Zealanders sent to war, nearly one-sixth were killed and more than 40,000 wounded. That was a heavy toll from a country of just over a million people.

“The effects of World War One rippled through the country; farms were left empty, families were forever damaged by the loss of fathers, husbands and brother.

“Out of that loss grew a new way of thinking about ourselves as a nation. We learnt to value our sense of independence, our uniqueness and our drive for self-determination. We became an independent nation.

“From the beaches of Anzac Cove to the barbed wire fence-strewn fields of the Western Front, we remember and celebrate our troops and those who supported them.

“It was called the ‘war to end wars’ but sadly the horrors of war are still as apparent as ever.

“Today we not only remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in World War One but those who are currently dying and suffering in Gaza, Israel, Syria, the Ukraine and Central Africa,” David Cunliffe says.

“A future Government involving the Green Party would look to progress legislation, already drafted, that would restrict foreign investors from purchasing New Zealand farmland,” Dr Norman said.

National’s support for selling off New Zealand farmland to overseas investors will result in more and more environmental degradation from dairy intensification, Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman said today.

Chinese company Shanghai Pengxin has confirmed that it is aiming to buy a $70 million farm, Lochinver Station, in the central North Island, which would be the second-largest foreign purchase of New Zealand land. The Overseas Investment Office (OIO) is currently reviewing the Lochinver Station deal, which would need the approval of two Government ministers before going ahead.

“Lochinver station is situated on the upper reaches of the Ripia that flows into the Mohaka River and is also situated on the source of the Rangateiki River.

“Lochinver station is at present a mixed farm involving beef, sheep and dairy.

“Any intensification of dairy farming at Lochinver risks polluting both these rivers.

“Shanghai Pengxin’s previous purchases, of farmland in New Zealand have been concentrated on dairy farms.

“Given Shanghai Pengxin’s previous purchases it is highly likely that they will seek to maximise Lochinver station’s dairying capabilities.

“Under this, and any future National Government, more and more farmland will be sold into foreign ownership and converted to dairy.

“A future Government involving the Green Party would look to progress legislation, already drafted, that would restrict foreign investors from purchasing New Zealand farmland,” Dr Norman said.

Dr Norman introduced a Member’s Bill in 2010 which rules out overseas ownership of farmland over five hectares.

“This simple measure would take some of the pressure off rural land prices, making it easier for New Zealand families to buy a farm, and will also help our current account deficit, as more profits will stay in New Zealand,” said Dr Norman.

“It is not in New Zealand’s long-term strategic economic interests to rubber stamp large-scale purchases of our farmland to overseas buyers whether they come from China, Australia or Sweden.”

As we gather on the eve of the 100 year anniversary of the commencement of World War 1, and we see conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, Syria and the Central African Republic transported into our living rooms on a daily basis, it is worth reflecting on the causes and effects of war and the time it takes for people and countries to recover from even a limited, conventional weapons war. Generations are wiped out, countrysides littered with the enduring, indiscriminate evil of land mines, children traumatised and permanently damaged by malnutrition from broken food supply, artefacts of historical, cultural and religious significance ruined beyond restoration. People, places and societies, ruined for a long time.

But we are here to commemorate the dropping of two bombs only. Just two. This week we remember the horrific and nation-changing effect of the release of two nuclear bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

A uranium atomic bomb (Little Boy) was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, followed by a plutonium bomb (Fat Man) on Nagasaki on August 9. Within the first two to four months of the bombings, the acute effects killed 90,000–166,000 people in Hiroshima and 60,000–80,000 in Nagasaki; roughly half of the deaths in each city occurred on the first day. During the following months, large numbers died from the effect of burns, radiation sickness, and other injuries, compounded by illness. In both cities, most of the dead were civilians.

They were the worst of all bombs and the start of nuclear escalation, despite the horrifying and barbaric effects the world witnessed amongst the survivors and on the land of Japan. Generations wiped out; countryside and waterways contaminated by radiation; diseases such as cancer lingering on in generations to come. It was the poisoning of a country, not just death on a vast and enduring scale.

Instead of turning away from the development of these catastrophic weapons, countries plunged headlong into refining, ‘improving’, enlarging and stockpiling them. It became a race to see who could arm themselves first and best. Now, the detonation of even a very small proportion of these new super-sized nuclear devices could have climatic, environmental, food supply and humanitarian effects which will bring the planet to its knees. And yet the doctrine of deterrence remains an argument still entertained internationally by nuclear powers and those who wish to become nuclear powers. This doctrine says that the very existence of nuclear weapons deters countries from using them. That is a zero sum game, if ever there was one.

The lunacy of this ideology is only now beginning to turn. The best deterrence is clearly no nuclear weapons at all. New moves in recent years for Russia and the USA to agree to reduce their stockpile of weapons is a glimmer of hope that many of us previously despaired that we would ever see. The United Nations’ Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, released a Five-Point Proposal for Disarmament a few years ago which fell into a thunderous silence. But now there is new interest in it and in the UN General Assembly’s Open-Ended Working Group on Disarmament.

It is my pleasure today to announce Labour’s Disarmament policy.

Labour will reinstate the Cabinet position of Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control. We will re-enter the movement through the United Nations towards a world free from nuclear weapons.

We believe we can play a crucial role in seizing the new opportunities emerging internationally to support ongoing progress towards a nuclear weapons-free world. A Labour-led government would have New Zealand participate with vigour once again in multilateral fora to advance nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.

We need legal, enforceable mechanisms to build a secure world. New Zealand should join forces with other countries to promote international legislative solutions with respect to the enforcement of treaties, including outlawing the development, stockpiling, threat of use and use of nuclear weapons through the International Criminal Court.

The UN Secretary General’s Five-Point Proposal for nuclear disarmament highlights the need to build progressively through negotiation, international treaties, pacts and agreements which alter the perception of security and methods of achieving it.

A Labour-led government will promote the UN Five-Point Proposal through leadership, influence and conviction, bringing our own experience of nuclear-free legislation to bear.

We will also seek to contribute to the UNGA’s Open-Ended Working Group on nuclear disarmament.

Labour also believes that civil society groups committed to a nuclear disarmament agenda play an integral part in the development of a secure world. People power brought us the nuclear-free legislation, with a willing government. People power will again advance a nuclear-free agenda. Labour will consult with the NGO sector to determine priorities and the efforts needed to achieve our aims.

Countries which already have domestic or regional nuclear weapons bans such as New Zealand and the Latin American countries, can engage with other countries either similarly located or similar in outlook, to examine ways of expanding networks of nuclear-free countries and their territorial waters. This could result in an expansion of existing regional agreements or the establishment of new nuclear-free regions. This is one way in which our experience of nuclear-free legislation might be shared with other countries.

Labour is also pleased at the adoption of theArms Trade Treaty in April 2013 and our signing of it along with a large number of UN member states. The international regulation of the arms trade is essential if conflicts are going to be initiated or exacerbated by the irresponsible trade in conventional weapons. We recognise the sovereign right of countries to defend themselves but the illegal transfer of weapons into international hotspots for lucrative gain must be stopped.

Labour will continue to promote the Arms Trade Treaty, in particular seeking its entry into force as soon as possible. We will complete all necessary domestic procedures so that New Zealand can ratify the Treaty in the near future.

We know what modern nuclear weapons can do. We don’t need to detonate them to find out. What we do need to do is join with like-minded countries to build an enforceable resistance to their existence. This is no longer wishful thinking. It is now a matter of survival, of the planet and of our very species.

CPAG Wellington warmly invites you to our latest public discussion, this time on ‘Housing and Child Poverty’ the next release in our election year series on child poverty – Our Children, Our Choice: Priorities for Policy. Hear from great guest speakers followed by discussion of the topic in small groups and how we can take action to bring about meaningful change for the 285,000 kiwi kids who live in poverty.

MC: Ian Harcourt, Comedian & Actor

Guest speaker: Philippa Howden-Chapman

Professor of public health at the University of Otago, Wellington, where she teaches public policy. Philippa is director of Housing and Health Research Programme and the New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities. She has conducted a number of randomised community housing trials in partnership with local communities, which have had a major influence on housing, health and energy policy. She has a strong interest in reducing inequalities in the determinants of health and has published widely in this area, receiving a number of awards for her work. She is currently the chair of the WHO Housing and Health Guideline Development Group and was a member of the Children’s Commissioner’s Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty.

A Labour Government will prioritise helping to create a nuclear weapons-free world by reinstating the Minister of Disarmament as a Cabinet position, Labour’s Disarmament and Arms Control spokesperson Maryan Street says.

“New Zealand once led the world with our anti-nuclear stance and promotion of disarmament in international forums.

“The humanitarian consequences of any nuclear conflict are too horrific to contemplate and the international community has renewed its efforts recently to reduce nuclear weapons stockpiles and the threat of nuclear war.

“As we commemorate the anniversaries of Hiroshima and Nagasaki this week, we also reflect on how much more dangerous the world has become with nuclear weapons proliferation.

“There is now an opportunity for New Zealand to play a crucial leadership role in the international community by supporting ongoing progress towards a nuclear weapons-free world.

“Labour is committed to participating in these multilateral non-proliferation forums with vigour. That is why a Labour Government will:

Promote the United Nations Secretary General’s five point proposal for disarmament and model nuclear weapons convention.

Contribute to the UN General Assembly’s Open Ended Working Group on nuclear disarmament.

Complete all the necessary domestic procedures so New Zealand can ratify the Arms Trade Treaty signed last year.

Consult with the NGO sector to determine the priorities and efforts needed to achieve our goal.

“A Labour Government will ensure that nuclear-free Aotearoa once again takes a leadership role in nuclear disarmament and the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons,” Maryan Street says.

Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford has lodged an official complaint against Housing Minister Nick Smith with Parliament’s Speaker for refusing to release data on the number of vacant state houses around the country.

“Nick Smith is clearly embarrassed by the high number of Housing NZ properties lying empty and boarded up. The total was 2,734 back in May when the Minister last released the numbers,” says Phil Twyford.

“It is a travesty that National should allow so many houses to lie vacant in the middle of a housing crisis when so many people desperately need a roof over their heads.

“But that is no excuse for Nick Smith to withhold that information from the public.

“I have routinely been provided this information by the Minister’s office in the past. But on the eve of the election campaign Dr Smith seems to have shut up shop. Refusing to answer written parliamentary questions is a breach of Parliament’s Standing Orders and that’s why I have complained to the Speaker.

“Attached below is a copy of Dr Smith’s highly selective and partial answer to my question. His office has refused to answer it properly.”

06402 (2014) Published – Housing – Corrected Reply

Question: How many Housing New Zealand homes were recorded as vacant as a number and in percentage of total Housing New Zealand stock, broken down by reason, number of bedrooms, by HNZ Reporting Office and region, and in total, in the month of June 2014 quarter, if any?

Portfolio: Housing

Minister: Hon Dr Nick Smith

Date Lodged:08/07/2014

Answer Text: Housing New Zealand advises that the number of vacant and ready to let properties was 629 properties or 0.92 percent of the total housing stock. The numbers by region are: • Community Group Housing: 9 • East and South Auckland: 105 • Northland and Western and Central Auckland: 128 • Southern Region: 88 • Waikato, Bay of Plenty, East Coast and Taranaki: 78 • Wellington, Manawatu and Hawkes Bay: 221 I do not consider it a good use of Housing New Zealand’s time to break down this information by number of bedrooms. This is also my answer to parliamentary question 06405 (2014).

Minister of Labour Simon Bridges should cut the tired old rhetoric about rises in the minimum wage causing job losses and understand New Zealand has a serious problem with low wages and working poverty that needs to be addressed, Labour’s spokesperson on Labour Issues Andrew Little says.

“The claim that increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour before Christmas and then to $16.25 next April will cost jobs just isn’t supported by New Zealand’s experience under the last Labour government, nor by overseas research.

“The last Labour government increased the minimum wage by 70 per cent over nine years and had the lowest level of unemployment in the OECD shortly before its term ended.

“The same government more than doubled the training rate over the same time, and youth unemployment went down. It has been over 22 per cent since 2009, even after the National government introduced youth rates and the 90-day law.

“Recent research by the US Department of Labour found that a review of 64 studies on minimum wage increases found no discernible effect on employment, and a UK Low Pay Commission study confirmed minimum wages boosts workers’ pay and doesn’t harm employment.

“We have a problem with a growing number of working poor and it is imperative we lift incomes.

“This is what Labour stands for through a comprehensive economic upgrade to move our economy up the value chain and by regulating sensibly, such as with the minimum wage,” Andrew Little said.

“Mr Joyce deliberately obfuscated and refused to answer questions on the actual connection numbers to both rural and broadband schemes in Parliament today in an attempt to cover up the National Government’s sluggish progress on both schemes

“Steven Joyce needs to front up rather than playing cagey at question time. Not doing so only increases suspicions the numbers might be embarrassing.

“A report released last week for the Commerce Commission by True Net showed that the speed of rural copper broadband had declined in the last two years. Communities across New Zealand are becoming increasingly frustrated and unable to properly function with low broadband speeds and lack of availability of affordable broadband.

“While Mr Joyce couldn’t provide a percentage figure for the numbers connected to the taxpayer-funded rural fibre broadband scheme, a report by the Auditor General in May raised concerns about that rollout.

“The Government has serious questions to answer about why it can’t – or won’t – provide accurate figures on take-up and what the state of rural connectivity actually is.

“There are rural businesses struggling to make a living, children who need to do their homework but can’t connect, and families unable to access internet television and take advantage of the opportunities offered to their urban cousins.

“After six years of a National Government more than one in five New Zealanders still don’t have regular access to the internet and 62,000 households with school-aged children don’t have access to the internet at home.

“While National is overseeing a slow crawl to an ultrafast highway the digital divide in both urban and rural New Zealand is increasing,” Clare Curran says.